The First and Second Life of Father Josef Toufar (1902–1950) and Shifts in Interpretations of Modern Czech History

Abstract

Summary There is an interesting paradox whereby contemporary Czech society ranks among the most secularized in the world, and where anti-clericalism – the rejection of Christianity and, first and foremost, the Catholic church – rank as key aspects for the majority of society. Against this background, two completely contradictory trends consequently converged in one society. This involved an enhanced and extremely vocal anti-clericalism, on the one hand, and wide-spread interest in the life story of a Catholic priest martyred by the Communist Regime in 1950, on the other hand. This study is divided into three parts. The first involves a brief biography of Father Josef Toufar (1902–1950), and the so-called second life, the further development in interest in his fate to the present day. The core of the study subsequently answers the question as to the reason behind the intensity of this contemporary interest in his fate.