European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 03, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Church told to stay out of polish politics in Poland where 19 out of 20 people arc Cath Olic the Church is being told to butt out of  shepherding the country through nearly five decades of communism and after choosing a pole As its Leader the Catholic Church is being asked to stick to spiritual matters and leave politics for others. I agree that the Church has a right to speak publicly about moral problems said Jerzy Turowicz longtime editor of a leading Catholic Magazine to Godnik . But the Church should not interfere in politics i  during the years of communist Rule the weekly Magazine that Turowicz 82, created just before the end of world War h was often harassed by the government which sometimes withheld paper to limit its size and circulation. In 1949, one of his contributors was a local priest named Karol Wojtyla who in 1978, became Pope John Paul ii. But the Pope s Homeland after shrugging off the shackles of one master in 1989, is not willing to re place them with another. Rather than be told what to think and How to behave poles now want what the dream of democracy has always promised individual Freedom. Before the elections of 1991, the Church made it known whom it supported. The engagement was obvious said roman Graczyk a journalist covering politics for the daily newspaper Gazita in Kracow. Priests he said endorsed candidates from the Pul pit. Some political parties mostly those with a nationalistic Bent put the word Christian in their names. Turowicz chuckled when he said if i m not mis taken we have 260 political parties Many of them he added Small enough to fit into his office. Lukasz Tischner assistant editor of Znak a monthly publication covering religion culture and philosophy said right Wing parties used the Pope s words to support their political Agenda. They were Strong about not legalizing abortion saying it is what the Pope wants from us he. Said. A  that a majority of poles wanted abortion to be Legal As it was under the communists. But politicians bowing to the Wilton the Church passed Laws forbidding it. The Church was roundly criticized for its political involvement after the 1991 elections and withdrew that involvement before the 1993 elections which -. Saw More left leaning parties gain ground in the parliament to the Church s Chagrin. A Filo Pope John Paul u inspects the troops in Warsaw with then polish Leader Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski in 1987. Is Carlos Pon Glovanni journalist Lukasz Tischner says right Wing parties used the Pope s words to support their political Agenda. The Church admitted it was wrong to withdraw said Graczyk. That was the Price they  i so the Church is More Active now in the months leading up to elections later this fall. It is currently opposing any clause in the new pol ish Constitution separating Church and state. Their argument is that it has a bad connotation from the communist times said Graczyk when the Church was officially but never practically outlawed. A Freedom of religion clause however has the Church s support. In away the poles attitude toward their Church now seems unfair. It was aft Rall the Church that preached Hope during the Days of communism pro Viding Light in the darkness. This is the current argument of the Church and it has Merit. Under communist Rule the Church did play a very important role Turowicz said. The commus a Ron Jonson Jerzy Turowicz editor of a leading Catholic Magazine. The Church should not interfere in politics directly lists were never Able to subordinate the role of the  in the last decade before the fall of communism he said the Church spoke loudly and often in the name of the people. I think the actions of the Pope did contribute to the fall not Only in Poland but All of Eastern Europe and the soviet Union he said. The Pope spoke of human rights and individual dignity. He blasted communist leadership for prohibiting the most Basic rights. Tischner said the Pope s words during the time of communism were like drugs for sick  but in his visits since 1989, his words have been considered pure religion More for the spiritual rather than the physical Well being. It is the kind of talk poles now want from their Church. _ Ron Jensen taken at his word continued from Page 4 Church believes As it does and encourage them to read about it in greater depth. But they have to make that decision he said. The Churchvill no doubt weather this turbulence. Bruno said if you look at the history of the Church there has always been controversy. We re looking at is nothing  a. The Pope s constituency stretches around the world and into every social class from the mansions of Beverly Hills to the Mountain towns of Poland to the dirt floor shacks of the third world. That americans can worry about some of these is sues Means they arc riot spending each Day securing bread for their families the daily struggle for Many of the world s catholics. Prendergast said there is still More common ground among catholics than division. They meet he said at the eucharist. If the Faith is too rigid too restrictive and too unyielding for some that May not be the fault of the Shepherd but of the flock. To be a Catholic said Willott is not a simple and easy  John Prendergst Jerry Wilson septembers 1395 Page 5