An unholy rage around the altar
No, I will not bore you again with the pathetic plight of the political right. It would only be news if it wasn't actually splitting. So, I swivel my attention as the year totters to a close to a much more engaging matter, namely the developing schism in the Catholic church.
The media furore over the finances and management of Father Tadeusz Rydzyk's Radio Maryja will in time bring to light the much more serious question of the serious divisions within the church. The bishops are so divided about Radio Maryja because it reflects their equally deep split over accession to the EU. That cleavage is in turn the result of disagreements about the future of the church as an institution.
Most of this remains submerged because of the Pope. His overwhelming presence and influence prevents many bishops from publicly declaring their opposition to membership of the EU. However, the bishops in question are all the more likely to be willing to defend those lower down the church hierarchy engaged in grassroots campaigning against the EU.
Many Polish bishops want to see Radio Maryja continue its present editorial policies because they remain convinced that after the end of the reign of Pope John Paul II the national church is highly likely to end up falling out with Rome. They fear, with considerable justification, that a new Pope will be more liberal than their compatriot who sits upon the throne of St. Peter now. So, might as well start preparing the faithful for the coming schism now rather than later.
That's one side of the battleground. The other side is made up of papal loyalists and a small minority of liberal priests grouped around Tygodnik Powszechny. They want Poland in the EU and Father Rydzyk tamed. But their backs are against the wall for two reasons:
a) Parish priests tend to be staunch defenders of Radio Maryja.
b) They are afraid of Radio Maryja's huge media sweep - four million listeners, a national newspaper and probably a TV station to come.
The loyalists and liberals have to tread very carefully. They dare not be seen siding with the pro-government public TV or the liberal press. That would be the kiss of death in the battle for the hearts and minds of the parish faithful Radio Maryja communicates with so well. It was no accident that faced with media scrutiny over his finances Rydzyk fought back with an application to run a satellite TV station. The message he sent the bishops was unequivocal: I have powers and followers you do not possess, a neat turning of the ancient proposition "How many legions has the Pope?"
Unlike the period in the mid 1990s the left is keeping its head well below the parapet on this one. In order to keep the Pope and the episcopate sweet on EU accession, the SLD has made absolutely no moves whatsoever on abortion or any other social issues of interest to the church. The concordat and religious instruction in schools are now unchallenged mantras.
In return, the church hierarchy has done its best to keep out of party politics. There has been no anti-left mobilisation during the last presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Unfortunately, the conciliatory tactics pursued by both Kwaniewski and Miller in the last few years have come too late. The unwise onslaught on the church launched by the left in the early 1990s created space for the likes of Father Rydzyk to grow. The conservative backlash has successfully undermined the church hierarchy.
The belated retreat on moral issues by the left has failed to steal the thunder of the ultras. Radio Maryja has been able to zoom in on a much more potent issue - the xenophobic horror of Poland being overrun by the foreigners from the EU.
In the current situation neither the government nor anyone else has any right to expect that the church hierarchy can help them win the referendum. Even if the church could bring itself to speak with one united voice (which it cannot), the Polish version of Catholicism is notoriously shallow. The congregations choose to adopt those elements of the Pope's message that it suits them to remember. And hypocrisy in interpreting the message is never far away.
The battle for the hearts and minds of the parish flocks will only intensify. Political turmoil associated with EU accession is not going to spare the House of God. The result of the referendum will not resolve the issue either. The battle between those who want the church to be like Radio Maryja and those who want it to be a "broad church" will rage on.
The media furore over the finances and management of Father Tadeusz Rydzyk's Radio Maryja will in time bring to light the much more serious question of the serious divisions within the church. The bishops are so divided about Radio Maryja because it reflects their equally deep split over accession to the EU. That cleavage is in turn the result of disagreements about the future of the church as an institution.
Most of this remains submerged because of the Pope. His overwhelming presence and influence prevents many bishops from publicly declaring their opposition to membership of the EU. However, the bishops in question are all the more likely to be willing to defend those lower down the church hierarchy engaged in grassroots campaigning against the EU.
Many Polish bishops want to see Radio Maryja continue its present editorial policies because they remain convinced that after the end of the reign of Pope John Paul II the national church is highly likely to end up falling out with Rome. They fear, with considerable justification, that a new Pope will be more liberal than their compatriot who sits upon the throne of St. Peter now. So, might as well start preparing the faithful for the coming schism now rather than later.
That's one side of the battleground. The other side is made up of papal loyalists and a small minority of liberal priests grouped around Tygodnik Powszechny. They want Poland in the EU and Father Rydzyk tamed. But their backs are against the wall for two reasons:
a) Parish priests tend to be staunch defenders of Radio Maryja.
b) They are afraid of Radio Maryja's huge media sweep - four million listeners, a national newspaper and probably a TV station to come.
The loyalists and liberals have to tread very carefully. They dare not be seen siding with the pro-government public TV or the liberal press. That would be the kiss of death in the battle for the hearts and minds of the parish faithful Radio Maryja communicates with so well. It was no accident that faced with media scrutiny over his finances Rydzyk fought back with an application to run a satellite TV station. The message he sent the bishops was unequivocal: I have powers and followers you do not possess, a neat turning of the ancient proposition "How many legions has the Pope?"
Unlike the period in the mid 1990s the left is keeping its head well below the parapet on this one. In order to keep the Pope and the episcopate sweet on EU accession, the SLD has made absolutely no moves whatsoever on abortion or any other social issues of interest to the church. The concordat and religious instruction in schools are now unchallenged mantras.
In return, the church hierarchy has done its best to keep out of party politics. There has been no anti-left mobilisation during the last presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Unfortunately, the conciliatory tactics pursued by both Kwaniewski and Miller in the last few years have come too late. The unwise onslaught on the church launched by the left in the early 1990s created space for the likes of Father Rydzyk to grow. The conservative backlash has successfully undermined the church hierarchy.
The belated retreat on moral issues by the left has failed to steal the thunder of the ultras. Radio Maryja has been able to zoom in on a much more potent issue - the xenophobic horror of Poland being overrun by the foreigners from the EU.
In the current situation neither the government nor anyone else has any right to expect that the church hierarchy can help them win the referendum. Even if the church could bring itself to speak with one united voice (which it cannot), the Polish version of Catholicism is notoriously shallow. The congregations choose to adopt those elements of the Pope's message that it suits them to remember. And hypocrisy in interpreting the message is never far away.
The battle for the hearts and minds of the parish flocks will only intensify. Political turmoil associated with EU accession is not going to spare the House of God. The result of the referendum will not resolve the issue either. The battle between those who want the church to be like Radio Maryja and those who want it to be a "broad church" will rage on.
