Polish Catholic Radio Against Poland's President And His Wife
Classified Polnews
The head of Polish Catholic Radio Maria hurled insults at the occupants of Poland's Presidential Palace. And they have demanded apologies that have not been forthcoming as the battle over control of the people's minds continues.
Taduesz Rydzyk
The millionaire Catholic Priest and head of Radio Maria, Taduesz Rydzyk, has not been happy with the Polish Government. He is looking at its activities with great concern.
His dissatisfaction started when he noted Government members at a journalists ball associating with feminists and high level post communist leftists.
Recently he launched onto the offensive by entering into a debate started by Deputy Prime Minister Roman Giertych who shocked the Prime Minister by saying that his, Giertych's, position on abortion was the Government position. Giertych was publicly reprimanded for his comments. Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Makes Direct Challenge To Polish Prime Minister
Later, when the President's wife signed a letter supporting the current status of the abortion laws in Poland, Rydzyk criticized the President for allowing a meeting that was "sewage" to take place in the Presidential Palace.
The Prime Minister, brother in law to the President's wife, tried to defuse the situation and said that she had been misled.
But his comment brought a stinging rebuke from a female representative of the President's office. And it rained upon him criticism from women who did not like his implication that the President's wife was not smart simply because she was a woman.
He retreated by saying that he would not comment on family matters.
And the battle has continued with insult added to insult until a sharp divide has developed between the Catholic Radio Station and some members of the Polish Government and the Polish President.
Some members of the Church have called for Rydzyk to apologize to the President. But few doubt that that will happen. See in Polish
The Church hierarchy is afraid to contest Rydzyk. He is too powerful. And some believe that many in the Church hierarchy agree with him and allow him to say what they want said.
The political dynamics may lead to a further escalation in the battle.
Rydzyk has a radio and TV station and a sympathetic audience that he can drive to the political party of his choice.
Roman Giertych is pushing the abortion issue and gathering voter support for his party.
The Speaker of the Polish Parliament, Marek Jurek is determined to change the constitution to strengthen the abortion laws. And he has a lot of support within the party and is working against the President.
The President is defending his wife.
As it stands currently, the only way open to the President to make peace is to succumb to the demands of the Priest. Will he do it?
