In December of 2022, Fr. Joseph Wasik, now 87, was arrested on charges of gross indecency and indecent assault stemming from accusations about incidents that allegedly occurred in the 1980s.
“On August 12, 2025, the Office of the Crown Attorney withdrew all charges against Fr. Wasik. As noted in our December 2022 statement, every individual is entitled to due process. We recognize that any allegation of misconduct against a priest is newsworthy. At the same time, it is essential to update stories and reports to reflect that the charges have been withdrawn to assist in restoring the reputation of Fr. Wasik,” reads the statement.
The statement goes on to say that, although retired since 2013, Fr. Wasik’s faculties to celebrate the sacraments have been restored and that he is a priest in good standing in the archdiocese.
“The Archdiocese of Toronto looks upon any allegation of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention,” the notice continues. “We continue to pray for all those affected by this painful situation.”
At the time of the arrest, few details about the case were revealed.
Police did not specify where in Peel Region Wasik operated, but it’s known Fr. Wasik served as parish priest at St. Martin of Tours on McBride Avenue in Mississauga between 1980 and 1983.
He later founded the Merciful Redeemer Parish in Mississauga in 1996.