We don’t want to attack John Paul II, but talk about a secular state, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, deputy chairman of the Sejm, co-chair of the New Left, told PAP. He added that “both demolishing monuments and changing street names is not part of the struggle for a secular state and will serve no purpose.”
Former Member of Parliament Stefan Niesiołowski stated in an interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza”, referring to the publications about Pope John Paul II, that “all monuments of John Paul II should be discreetly removed”.
He can no longer be defended. The facts that have been and will be revealed prove that the Pope simply covered up pedophiles. And actually you should slowly forget about this character. However, monuments will be removed sooner or later
he said.
“PiS’s alibi
In turn, Warsaw’s left councilor Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska stated that “the left will support initiatives to remove the name of al. John Paul II or patrons of schools bearing the name of the Polish pope, but even with such proposals they will don’t come,” and together with Councilor Marek Szolc, they wrote an interpellation to Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski calling for the center of thought of John Paul II to be transformed into a “religiously neutral institution that would promote intercultural and religious dialogue.”
Włodzimierz Czarzasty referred to the statements of both politicians in an interview with PAP. “The club’s position is clear: both demolishing monuments and renaming streets does not fit into the struggle for a secular state and does not help. It is as if the demolition of the Palace of Culture and Science, which is proposed once a year by someone from the right, will not explain all the meanders of the People’s Republic of Poland,” he said.
I judge the whole matter regarding John Paul II as the alibi of PiS, not to touch matters related to the secular state and the establishment of a secular state
– assessed the deputy marshal.
When we talk about a secular state, about the equality of the clergy before the law, about the need to pay taxes, to pay customs duties, about the need to move religion to catechetical rooms, PiS says that this is an attack on John is Paul II, and this is not an attack on John Paul II, we are only talking about a secular state
– added.
As Czarzasty emphasized, “tearing down monuments to John Paul II and changing street names will not change the building of a secular state.”
Storm after TVN 24 material
On March 6, TVN 24 broadcast the report “Franciszkańska 3” dedicated to the question of what the then metropolitan of Kraków, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła knew about cases of pedophilia among priests (1964-1978). It describes the cases of three priests: Bolesław Saduś, Eugeniusz Surgent and Józef Loranc, and the response of the then Metropolitan of Kraków to them. The report contained statements by the Dutch journalist Ekke Overbeek, the author of the book “Maxima Culpa. What the Church Is Hiding About John Paul II.
On March 9, the Sejm passed a resolution on defending the good name of St. John Paul II, in which it “strongly condemns the media, disgraceful campaign” of which Pope John Paul II is the object. 271 MPs voted in favor of the resolution, 43 against, 4 MPs abstained. 142 deputies did not vote.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce