Priest on leave after alleged porn download

A Bucks County priest removed from ministry last month was placed on leave because it was discovered that a trove of pornographic images he had downloaded in 2005 may have included up to a dozen photos of minors, the archdiocese said in a statement Tuesday.

The Rev. Louis J. Kolenkiewicz, 47, most recently of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland, had been disciplined in 2005 and 2011 for downloading pornography, Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Ken Gavin said.

But recently, Gavin said, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office - which had investigated the previous cases but declined to press charges - told the archdiocese that among the 12,000 images Kolenkiewicz downloaded in 2005, up to 12 may have depicted juveniles.

The archdiocese had announced in February that Kolenkiewicz had been placed on leave but did not specify why. The details were explained to St. Bede parishioners at a meeting Monday night, Gavin said.

Kolenkiewicz will remain on leave "pending the outcome of this matter," Gavin said.

Kolenkiewicz could not immediately be reached for comment.

Since being ordained in 1993, Kolenkiewicz has served in six parishes, according to the archdiocese: St. Gabriel in Norwood, in 1993 and 1994; St. John Bosco in Hatboro, from 1994 to 2002; St. Ignatius in Yardley, from 2002 to 2004; St. Bede's, from 2004 to 2008; Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park, from 2008 to 2011; and St. Bede's again over the last year.

In 2005, according to Gavin, Kolenkiewicz admitted using a parish computer to view pornography, and in 2011, he was caught again possessing illicit images.

After the second incident, Gavin said, Kolenkiewicz spent three years on administrative leave while participating in treatment for his "issues with pornography," Gavin said.

Kolenkiewicz returned to active ministry at St. Bede's in June, Gavin said. There is "no evidence to suggest that Father Kolenkiewicz has viewed any pornographic material since his return to ministry," Gavin said.

Still, Gavin said, there is no time frame for when a decision might be made about Kolenkiewicz's ability to return after his most recent stint on leave.