Winnipeg priest arrested in Hawaii

A Winnipeg priest has been taken into custody by the police in Hawaii for an alleged sexual assault and kidnapping.

Bohdan Borowec, 56, had been on vacation in Honolulu when the alleged incident occurred Feb. 13, according to a notice issued by the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, which is the authority over the 130 parishes that comprise the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Manitoba.

“We have been advised that a complaint was made by a woman that he had assaulted her. The church is fully cooperating with the authorities in these matters,” states the notice.

“The church is very concerned for any who are victimized and offers its pastoral care to them. The church asks for prayers especially for those affected by this particular incident.”

Borowec, who was born in Poland, was ordained Dec. 16, 1984, in Winnipeg.

He was most recently the administrator at Holy Ghost church on Ada Street in Winnipeg’s Brooklands neighbourhood, as well as at Christ the King church on Fountain Street in the Centennial neighbourhood.

“To the best of our knowledge, he has never been in trouble with the law or had any complaints of misconduct,” the archeparchy notice states.

According to KHON2 News in Hawaii, Borowec made his first appearance in court on Feb. 18 and is being held in custody.

Court documents cited by KHON2 say Borowec is accused of hugging a woman at an East Oahu church, and repeatedly kissing her.

When the woman tried to get away, the priest shut a door in front of her and would not allow her to leave. That’s when Borowec once again sexually assaulted the woman, according to the court documents.