Fr Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski
Polish Priests and the Communist Secret Police
Księża wobec bezpieki
RIGHTS AVAILABLE:
World
About the author:
Polish Priests and the Communist Secret Police
Księża wobec bezpieki
RIGHTS AVAILABLE:
World
This book tackles one of the most difficult and controversial issues in the history of the Polish Catholic Church that is the relation of the clergy towards the Communist secret police. Fr Isakowicz-Zaleski addresses the hot topic of the extent to which Poland’s Roman Catholic Church was infiltrated by communist security services. Using communist-era files, Isakowicz-Zaleski names both secret policemen and priests they aimed at.
The publication, based on the archives of communist secret services, which are now in the possession of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, has met with enormous interest since the onset of works on it, with readers signing up at bookstores to make sure they get a copy once the book is out.
Following a detailed research into the documents and testimonies, Fr. Isakowicz-Zaleski described the attitude of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church towards Poland’s former oppressive regime. He revealed names of priests who spied for communists and talked about the circumstances of their entanglements with the communist intelligence. But he also devotes attention to priests who had the strength to resist the system and who were harmed by the collaboration of other religious with the communists.
Fr. Isakowicz-Zaleski’s book tells the stories of 130 priests. Among them, it mentions eight bishops, who collaborated with communists, including archbishop Paetz of Poznań, who made headlines five years ago in connection with allegations of homosexual abuse. According to the book, archbishop Paetz was recruited by the communist intelligence back in 1978 and delivered information, while he was working close to three successive Popes, including John Paul II. The motivation behind his secret activity is not given in the book.
The motivation behind the priests’decision to work for the communists was of diverse origin. Some were blackmailed, but the majority of the 10% priests that agreed to collaborate, did that for personal gain – money or career.
The nearly 600 pages long publication is dedicated to the forgotten heroes, who heroically opposed the communist regime, especially the late Frs. Kazimierz Jancarz and Aldolf Chojnacki.
The publication, based on the archives of communist secret services, which are now in the possession of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, has met with enormous interest since the onset of works on it, with readers signing up at bookstores to make sure they get a copy once the book is out.
Following a detailed research into the documents and testimonies, Fr. Isakowicz-Zaleski described the attitude of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church towards Poland’s former oppressive regime. He revealed names of priests who spied for communists and talked about the circumstances of their entanglements with the communist intelligence. But he also devotes attention to priests who had the strength to resist the system and who were harmed by the collaboration of other religious with the communists.
Fr. Isakowicz-Zaleski’s book tells the stories of 130 priests. Among them, it mentions eight bishops, who collaborated with communists, including archbishop Paetz of Poznań, who made headlines five years ago in connection with allegations of homosexual abuse. According to the book, archbishop Paetz was recruited by the communist intelligence back in 1978 and delivered information, while he was working close to three successive Popes, including John Paul II. The motivation behind his secret activity is not given in the book.
The motivation behind the priests’decision to work for the communists was of diverse origin. Some were blackmailed, but the majority of the 10% priests that agreed to collaborate, did that for personal gain – money or career.
The nearly 600 pages long publication is dedicated to the forgotten heroes, who heroically opposed the communist regime, especially the late Frs. Kazimierz Jancarz and Aldolf Chojnacki.
About the author:
Fr Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski (b.1956) is a Roman Catholic poet and an important figure in the Polish anti-Communist movement.
Copyright © by Społeczny Instytut Wydawniczy Znak 2007, wykonanie serwisu Indecity