Polish bishop resigns after drink-driving charge

A bishop from northern Poland has resigned after being charged with causing an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol, a church spokesman said today.

“The bishop decided it is appropriate to resign and did resign,” said Father Jozef Kloch, a Polish church spokesman.

Bishop Andrzej Sliwinski of the Elblag diocese, some 170 miles north of Warsaw, collided with another car while driving his home city on May 11.

Police said a breath test showed Sliwinski was four times over the legal blood-alcohol level of 0.02%.

A man and his six-year-old daughter were injured in the accident and taken to hospital for observation.

Two days later, the 64-year-old bishop was suspended from his duties.

If convicted on drunken driving charges, Sliwinski could face a prison term of up to eight years.