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The Church in Poland Under Martial Law

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The Church in Poland Under Martial Law Chronicle 209 only reactionary putposes. These are the arti­ regime still attaches to religion. It is signific­ cle's prophylactic elements. The article serves ant that readers of Literatumaya gazeta to impress the reader with the high culture of should be thought in need of such a reminder. the professional atheist, and at the same time remind him of the ~litica1 stigma which the PAUL A. LUCEY The Church in Poland under Martial Law The declaration of martial law in Poland 13 December ended the period of renewal which began in On Sunday afternoon, the day when martial the shipyard of Gdarisk in August 1980. The Solidarity union, claiming ten million mem­ law was declared in Poland, Archbishop bers, was suspended overnight as were all Glemp, the Primate of the Roman Catholic social, charitable and religious associations. Church in Poland, said in a sennon: "The Church has received with pain the severance Thousands of people were arrested and in­ terned in special camps, among them many of the dialogue which had started with such prominent Catholics such as Professor ~culty, and the switch to the path of force This Wladysfaw Bartoszewski, a lecturer at the m the fonn of martial law. cannot happen without the infringement of basic civiJ Catholic University of Lublin, Janusz Bazydlo, the editor of the unofficial Catholic ?ghts. It means, in many instances, the flout­ Ing of human dignity, arrests of innocent quarterly Spotkania (Encounters), Tadeusz people, contempt for men of culture and sci­ Mazowiecki, the editor of the Solidarity ence, and anxiety in many families". He as­ weekly, five members of the editorial board sured the believers that "the Church will con­ of the Catholic Journal Wifi (Bond), a number of the activists of the Catholic Intel­ tinually demand the release of citizens who lectuals' Clubs, and many others. Publication have been detained without justification . .", but stressed that "saving life and pre­ of all newspapers, apart from a few published vention of bloodshed" was "the most impor­ by the military authorities, was also sus­ tant matter". The archbishop pleaded: "Do pended. The authorities tried hard to secure the Church's backing, or at least passive not start a fight, Pole against Pole. Do not give your lives away brothers, workers, silence, so no direct measures against it were because the price of human life will be very taken. Although some priests were interned they were released after interrogation, like Fr low. Every head, every pair of hands will be essential to the reconstruction of Poland J.pzef Tischner in Krak6w, or after a short which wiJl, which must take place after time of internment, like the Dominican, Fr th~ end of the state of martial law ." Toma~ Aleksiewicz in Pozmin. Even though The need to prevent bloodshed in Poland OI~e pnest, Fr Bolesfaw Jawulski, was put on w,as also stressed by Pope John Paul 11 during !flal for an anti-state sennon, he was released mto the custody of his bishop. Though a total ?is usual ~und.ay prayer in St Peter's Square In Rome: Polish blood must not be shed, too ban on public gatherings was imposed, the Church was free to carry out its pastoral tasks mu~h has already been shed, especially durmg the last world war. Everything must be inc!uding celebrating masses, to arrange visit~ done to ~nsure the building of Poland's future to Internment camps and to distribute food in peace". and clothing. However, the Ro~an Catholic hierarchy rejected martial law and has con­ stantly condenmed the wrongs of the "war 15 December against the nation" and called for a return "to The main council of the Polish Episcopate ~h~ b~ke~ path of dialogue". They were met for a one-day session in Warsaw. The Jomed In this condenmation by the Pope, who bishops expressed their deep conviction that has been constantly reminding the world of despite such a setback the nation would not the unjust sufferings of his fellow retreat and give up the democratic renewal countrymen. begun in August 1980. They appealed to both 210 Chronicle the Church and the people to concentrate on church in Warsaw was broadcast on the radio. two issues: the release of all internees and the Archbishop Glemp's Christmas message, ex­ .restoration of the trade unions, above all the pressing his "deepest wish" that the state of statutory activities of Solidarity. martial law would end before Christmas, was read out. 16 December During the usual Wednesday audience, Pope 26 December John Paul 11 appealed to all the people of Po­ During a Christmas mass, Cardinal land to return to the path of renewal created Macharski of Krak6w said "Nobody can by means of dialogue and respect for the agree to the use offorce, oppression and lies rights of every man, and especially respect for to build good and happiness. No-one can the working man. "This path is not an easy agree to the shedding of blood. .." How­ one", said the Pope, " ... but it is not impos­ ever, he warned strongly against violence and sible". pointed to love as the strongest weapon to overcome all wrongs. "We are people who believe that God is love, and love will prevail 20 December in the end". The text of a proclamation by Archbishop Glemp was read in all Catholic churches in 28 December Poland. On behalf of the entire Episcopate Archbishop Glemp wrote to General the Archbishop expressed "deep pain and JaruzeIski demanding that the campaign of sympathy for all families affected by the de­ dismissals from work should stop. The letter claration of martial law and parted from their followed a decree of 17 December which loved ones". "We are helplessly confronted stated that people who would not renounce with sufferings and evil. But despite this we their Solidarity membership were to be dis­ believe that everything is in the hands of God missed from their jobs immediately. The ... and we pray to Him that there will be no Archbishop wrote: "the decree presumes that bloodshed, for our country has never experi­ all Solidarity members are enemies of the enced fratricidal wars. I entreat you in the state . it introduces negative selection, name of God not to raise hands filled with leaving the men who are the weakest and bro­ hatred against one another. Only self-control ken in spirit to carry out the important task of and the maintenance of calm can save our finding a way out of the crisis, and it is totally country and the Church which fulfils her mis­ contradictory to the general's programme for­ sion in it." mulated in public on 13 December, as well as On the same day the Vatican envoy for statements by the military Council for the Sal­ Eastern Europe, Archbishop Luigi Poggi, vation of Poland on 16 December" . arrived in Warsaw on a fact-finding mission, bringing a letter from the Pope to General 1 January Jaruzelski. The Pope appealed to the Pope John Paul 11, speaking in St Peter's general's conscience "to end these acts of Square said: "at stake is a matter of impor­ bloodshed against Poles ... and to return to tance, not only for Poland but for the history the peacl:ful dialogue, which since August of mankind. ... The word "Solidarity" 1980 has been solving the problems involved which is visible on so many posters here in the renewal of society". Warsaw television speaks of efforts aimed at justice and peace claimed that Archbishop Poggi's meeting ... Solidarity belongs to the modern heritage with General Jaruzelski on 24 December took of working people of my homeland and I place "in a spirit of mutual understanding" . would go so far as to say of other nations and that the General assured the envoy that also." he would study attentively the opinions expressed in the Pope's letter. The Pope wrote also to Lech Wal'c;sa, the interned Soli­ 6 January darity leader, assuring him that his whole During a mass on the feast of Epiphany, Car­ heart was with him and with all his family at dinal Macharski stated that there was only this difficult moment. one way out of the state of martial law-to re­ sume the interrupted dialogue with society, in 24 December circumstances free of threat, and between The military authorities lifted the curfew so equal and free men. The Cardinal revealed that people could attend Christmas midnight that he had received letters telling him not to mass. The midnight mass from Holy Cross practise politics from the altar and to with- Chronicle 211 draw his open support for Solidarity. Some 13 January letters even threatened him with "the fate of The Pope announced that during the Wed­ Archbishop Romero of El Salvador". The nesday audiences' he would pray in· Polish Cardinal said: "I shall never deny my numer­ despite the absence of Polish pilgrims "to ous sermons, in which I promoted Polish ways whom access to Rome has been denied to a just and free Poland ... I want to preach because of the unfortunate state of martial the evangelical truth about God and man to law ..." as "they do not cease to be present men in our difficult times. .. This is not here in spirit" . meddling in politics. I repeat, and I shall con­ tinue to repeat: reason and love instead of 19 January force and the sword! Love is the way to truth The 182nd Plenary Conference of the Polish and justice." Episcopate, the first since martial law was de­ On the same day Archbishop Glemp re­ clared, ended in Warsaw.
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