Jan Graubner
Jan Graubner (born 29 August 1948) is a Czech prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Archbishop of Prague since July 2022. He was Archbishop of Olomouc in the Czech Republic from 1992 to 2022, after serving as an auxiliary there for two years.
His Excellency Jan Graubner | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Prague | |
 Jan Graubner while archbishop of Olomouc | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Archdiocese | Prague |
| Appointed | 13 May 2022 |
| Installed | 2 July 2022 |
| Predecessor | Dominik Duka |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 23 June 1973 |
| Consecration | 7 April 1990 by František Vaňák |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 August 1948 |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Previous post(s) | Archbishop of Olomouc (1992–2022) |
| Motto | Quod dixerit vobis, facite ("Do what he tells you.") |
| Coat of arms | .svg.png.webp) |
Biography
Jan Graubner was born in Brno in 29 August 1948. He graduated from high school in Strážnice in 1967 and then became an engineering worker in Považská Bystrica, then called Gottwald.[1] In 1968 he was admitted to the Major Seminary of Olomouc. On 23 June 1973 he was ordained a priest for that archdiocese. From October 1973 to September 1975 he carried out his military service while also working as a chaplain in Zlín at the same time. From 1977 to 1982 he was chaplain in Valašské Klobouky. From 1982 to 1990 he was administrator of the Parish of Vizovice,[2] with responsibility for the pilgrimage site of Provodov and the parish of Horní Lhota near Luhačovice.[1]
On 17 March 1990 he was appointed titular bishop of Tagaria and auxiliary bishop of Olomouc. He received episcopal ordination on the 7 April. On 28 September 1992 he was promoted to Metropolitan Archbishop of Olomouc.[2]
Since 1991 he has been president of Czech Catholic Charity. He was president of the Czech Episcopal Conference from 2000 to 2010 and was elected to another term in 2022. He has also been president of its Commission on Charity and delegate for the Missions.[2]
In 2008, he received the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk from former President Václav Klaus for outstanding merits in the development of democracy and human rights.[3]
In 2020, he contracted the Covid virus and came close to dying.[4]
On 13 May 2022, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Prague.[2] He was installed there on 2 July.[5] His appointment was surprising because he is so close to retirement age and he has never worked outside of Moravia.[4]
Priestly sexual abuse
In 2000, a student at Palacký University of Olomouc Saints Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology filed criminal charges against both Graubner and one of his priests, František Merta. It accused Merta of sexual abuse of minors in the 1990s and Graubner of failing to report charges of abuse to the police, transferring him instead to another parish.[6] A civil court found Merta guilty and he received a suspended sentence of two years in prison.[7] Graubner has said he reassigned Merta because the case against him was inconclusive.[3]
References
- "Mons. Jan Graubner". Archdiocese of Olomouc (in Czech). Archived from the original on 11 April 2022.
- "Rinunce e nomine, 13.05.2022" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- "Odložené obvinění i silná zkušenost s koronavirem. Přečtěte si, kdo je nový pražský arcibiskup Graubner". Rozhlas (in Czech). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- Šebek, Jaroslav (13 May 2022). "Osvědčený Graubner má dostatek zkušeností, bude člověkem udržovacího charakteru, hodnotí historik". Rozhlas (Interview) (in Czech). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- "Jan Graubner becomes Archbishop of Prague". Radio Prague International. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- Smidova, Zuzana (10 August 2000). "Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse deepens crisis in Church". Czech Radio. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Archive Today.
- "Czech church responds to abuse scandal". Prague Post. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2022.