Coventry pastor placed on leave

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WARWICK — The Diocese of Providence has placed Father Jacek Ploch, the pastor of two Coventry parishes, on immediate administrative leave following his arrest by Warwick Police on charges including driving under the influence of alcohol. Police say Father Ploch was behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler that struck and injured a pedestrian attempting to cross Airport Road on Sunday, July 14, at 9:30 p.m.

Father Ploch, 38, was charged with having a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or greater.

He has served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish since 2013 and Our Lady of Czenstochowa Parish since 2017.

In a July 15 statement, the diocese offered its thoughts and prayers for the “full and speedy recovery” of the victim injured in the accident, who police said had been transported to the hospital with an “apparent extremity injury.”

“Father Ploch has been placed on administrative leave effectively immediately,” the statement said. “During this time he is not permitted to minister as a priest.”

“While Father Jacek Ploch has served this diocese and his parishes well, spiritual leaders must always strive to set a good example for others. Whenever a priest is involved in an unfortunate situation like this, he is subject to the consequences of civil law, and potentially to canonical sanctions as well.”

Father Bernard A. Healey, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in East Greenwich, will serve as temporary administrator of the two Coventry parishes.