Udział Kościoła w odbudowie niepodległej Polski

Abstract

During the partitions of Poland, the Catholic Church took care of Polish history and tradition. Moreover, during the First World War, the clergy asked themselves what ways should be followed to regain freedom and what the new state would look like. The Church was closest to the program of the National League (later National Democracy) of Roman Dmowski. The priests not only served as moral and charitable help, but also served as chaplains in the newly-formed army, including Pilsudski’s legions, the army of General Józef Haller and the Polish Rifle Division. They also undertook political activities, eg the Primate of the Kingdom of Poland, Archbishop Aleksander Kakowski, became a member of the Regency Council, and a number of clergymen became members of the Legislative Sejm. The church also played an important role during the struggle for the unification of Polish lands and the borders of the reborn homeland, which lasted for six years. The priests got primarily involved in propaganda activities, supporting the Wielkopolska Uprising and plebiscite activity in Warmia and Mazury (East Prussian plebiscite) as well as in Upper Silesia and Cieszyn Silesia. The entire nation was involved in regaining independence, but the Catholic Church was a part that played a special role in that process.