The Supreme Court of Greece has upheld a prison sentence imposed on a priest who groped a female worshipper’s chest, touched her genital area, and later hugged and caressed her buttocks during confession.

The incident took place in Eastern Macedonia, and the priest was convicted of violating sexual dignity, receiving a four-month prison sentence, suspended for three years.

Following his conviction, the priest appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the ruling lacked the necessary legal reasoning required by the Greek Constitution and criminal law.

The Incident and the Court’s Findings

According to the court’s decision, in September 2020, the priest used a small chapel adjacent to the main church for confessions. During one such session, he placed his hand inside the worshipper’s blouse, groped her chest, and then moved his finger downward, touching her genital area.

At the end of the confession, he hugged and fondled her buttocks, gravely violating her dignity.

During the investigation, the priest initially denied any physical contact. However, during court proceedings, he admitted to touching the woman’s chest.

The judges ruled that the priest’s actions were highly provocative and deeply degrading, exploiting the secrecy of confession to commit the act.

The Court Rejects the Priest’s Defense

The priest claimed that the woman did not perceive his actions as an assault on her dignity since she did not immediately react. However, the court dismissed this argument, citing her testimony, in which she described feeling shocked and frozen during the incident.

The ruling also emphasized that public support for the priest, including a large turnout at his trial, did not negate the court’s findings regarding his actions.

While the courts did not find sufficient evidence that the priest repeatedly touched the woman near her genital area or used sexually explicit language, they ruled that he was still guilty of violating her sexual dignity.

Final Decision and Sentencing

Given that the priest had displayed good behavior for an extended period after the incident, he was granted a mitigating circumstance under Article 84(2a) of the Penal Code.

The Supreme Court rejected all his appeals and upheld the conviction, concluding that the ruling was thorough, legally sound, and based on clear evidence.

Finally, the court ordered the priest to pay legal costs amounting to €250.