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.
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