Spór o postawę religijną międzywojennej inteligencji na polskim Górnym Śląsku. Casus Tadeusza Starka

Abstract

During the interwar period the Catholic Church on Polish Upper Silesia tried to encourage the intelligence which came there to be politically active in the religious area. The Church was aware that natives of Upper Silesia would modify their own posture by imitating customs, manner, and even putting on clothes which were worn by the intellectual elite. The aim was to use external signs to manifest attachment to religious values. In the meantime, those who were required to be committed to religious values, defended themselves from this kind of commitment and stood for more liberal rules very often. One of few who was ready to take the burden and realize the conception of the Church was the president of Katowice appeal court – Tadeusz Stark. He worked closely with the authorities of the Silesian diocese; he was a marshal of the III Silesian Catholic congress. He also directed Catholic League, and was active on the parish level. His example was often mentioned in public disputes with these who presented the intelligence on Upper Silesia as the camp which wanted to fight with the Church in the area of Upper Silesia.