Decade-Long 'Pornography Addiction' Behind Local Priest's Leave

A decade-long pornography addiction, with some images possibly containing children, is the reason a Bucks County Catholic priest was placed on administrative leave last month, according to reports.

Father Louis J. Kolenkiewicz, 47, who most recently served at Saint Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland, was placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in February. At the time, the archdiocese did not elaborate on the reason behind the leave, only saying that there was an investigation into allegations against Kolenkiewicz.

On Monday, the Archdiocese told parishioners at Saint Bede the reason behind Kolenkiewicz’s leave was a pornography addiction that he has had for at least a decade, according to a report by the Bucks County Courier Times. Specifically, the archdiocese said there are a dozen images found on Kolenkiewicz’s computer that may depict children, the report said.

This is the second time Kolenkiewicz has been placed on administrative leave and the third time he has been investigated by the Archdiocese for pornography.

In 2005, he downloaded about 8,000 pornographic images on a St. Bede’s computer, the Courier Times reported. Law enforcement officials reportedly reviewed the material and found that there were no images of children and Kolenkiewicz continued to serve as a priest.

Then, in September 2011, while serving at Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park, he was suspended after pornography was again found on his computer, according to the Archdiocese. The more than 8,000 images that were found six years earlier were again reviewed by law enforcement as part of the investigation, the Courier Times said.

In 2014, he was reinstated and assigned to Saint Bede the Venerable. Recently, a pediatrician who reviewed the images investigated over the past decade said 12 of them may feature children, according to the Courier Times.

No charges have been filed against Kolenkiewicz, who is still on administrative leave.

He has also served at Saint John Bosco in Hatboro from 1994-2002 and Saint Ignatius in Yardley from 2002-2004.

While on administrative leave, Kolenkiewicz is not permitted to exercise public ministry, administer any of the sacraments, or present himself publicly as a member of the clergy, the Archdiocese said.