Poland And The Vatican
Poland And The Vatican
After forty-four years of rejection by the Communists of eastern Europe, the Vatican has now been able to establish full diplomatic relations with Poland. This, along with Poland’s election of an openly Catholic premier, is the capstone of a long and bitter struggle between a Catholic population and their Russian dominated Communist government.
Its economy in shambles and its political influence nearly nonexistent, the Communist government has decided that it is time to fraternize with the Vatican, in return for papal support.
The western world is rejoicing over the new openness, but Bible believers have little to rejoice over except for the fact that while the struggle was going on over a million Chick gospel tracts were allowed into Poland. True Christians fear that they will find themselves even less welcome under Vatican control of the country than under Communism.
The leader of one ministry responsible for getting gospel literature into Poland writes:
“Poland, as I’m sure you are aware, has been dedicated to Mary {any wonder it has problems?} and the Solidarity party {leaders} are now saying there will be only one church in Poland.”
The Polish government has agreed to return property seized from the Catholic church in the 1950’s, and pay compensation for property the church does not wish to take back. This alone will bring an estimated several billion zlotys to the church’s coffers, equal to millions of dollars.
Promising a “new field of church activities” in Poland, the Polish bishops delayed giving their support until they were first assured that they would be given a proper role in influencing the government.
That underscores the basic struggle here. The goal is control. With a Catholic population, and now Catholic officials in the government, diplomatic relations insure that the pope’s wishes will be reflected in official policy.