The Vatican on Friday banned a 97-year-old Polish cardinal from carrying out his duties and using bishops' insignia after an unspecified probe which media reports said related to alleged sexual abuse. In a statement, the Holy See's embassy in Poland said it had taken these measures "following the investigation into the accusations against Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz and after the analysis of other accusations concerning the cardinal's past." The measures also specified Gulbinowicz could not be buried in a cathedral, and that he would have to give some money to a foundation created by the Polish episcopacy to help victims of sexual abuse. It was unclear however what exactly he was being punished for. Appointed cardinal by Pope John Paul II in May 1985, Gulbinowicz has been accused of abusing a 15-year-old in 1989 and protecting a priest who was branded a paedophile. He is also accused of not having informed the Vatican about another priest who was found guilty of paedophilia. This is the third such case this year in the higher echelons of Poland's ecclesiastical hierarchy. Last month, the Vatican's ambassador to Poland announced the resignation of Polish bishop Edward Janiak who was suspected of covering up sexual abuse of children. And in August, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Slawoj Leszek Glodz, the Archbishop of Gdansk known for his high-end lifestyle and love of luxury, following accusations he had bullied priests and remained silent on alleged sex abuse. bo/sw/mba/mbx/erc