Charges withdrawn against Toronto priest, priestly faculties restored

A priest in the Archdiocese of Toronto has had his priestly faculties restored after charges of indecent assault against him were withdrawn by the Crown Attorney’s office.

Fr. Joseph Wasik, who was charged in 2022 relating to allegations dating back to the early 1980s, has had his faculties to celebrate the sacraments restored and is a priest in good standing in the archdiocese after the charges were withdrawn Aug. 12.

Wasik has been retired since 2013 after serving in multiple Toronto parishes since 1974. 

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The Archdiocese of Toronto looks upon any allegation of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention. It also recognizes the importance of reporting when charges have been withdrawn to assist in restoring the reputation of the accused. 

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The Archdiocese of Toronto’s full “Procedure for Cases of Alleged Misconduct” policy can be accessed at archtoronto.org.

A version of this article appeared in the September 07, 2025 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Charges withdrawn against Toronto priest"