The New Turn in Church-State Relations in Poland

Abstract

The events in Poland in years 1980-81 have a polyvalent significance not only for Polish nation but for whole com munist block and for relations between East and West. It does not matter how long the Polish experiment in democracy will last nor to what extent this new form of socialism with a human will be successful. What is historically important is that Poles have been able to organize a new alliance between workers and peasants and have been joined by members of intelligentsia. The Poles have done this not in order to fight communism, but, on contrary, to combat Soviet bureaucratic distortion of socialism. This essay explores one aspect of Polish phenomenon, viz., relationship between church and state and evolution of an unu sual and unprecedented cooperation between two centers of political-administrative and spiritual authority. Since August 1980, Roman Catholic Church has not only played an active role in bringing about new changes in a peaceful way, but it has struggled to preserve basic elements of existing law and order and national sovereignty in face of communist encirclement. There can be little doubt that without direct involvement of Polish Catholic church and lacking help of Vatican's experienced diplomacy, democratic forces in Poland would find it impossible to navigate rough seas of contemporary political storm which affects so significantly vital interests of Soviet Union. The special relationship which exists between Polish Com munist government and Church hierarchy did not emerge sud denly. It was prepared by a slow and careful series of developments.