A two-week prayer campaign, “Rosary for Mercy”, culminating with a religious mass in front of Warsaw’s city hall is aimed at foiling a Madonna concert. The action is led by the Defense of National Tradition and Faith Committee, “Pro Polonia”, whose leader is an influential Masovian parliament councilman. The committee is upset that the performer’s concert is scheduled for August 15, which clashes with both the Ascension of the Holy Virgin Mary religious holiday and Battle of Warsaw military anniversary celebrations.
The committee has sent letters to all Warsaw clergymen asking them to encourage worshippers’ participation in the mass protest. Pro Polonia, however, is disappointed, that local politicians from the right-leaning Law and Justice party haven’t responded to the appeal for support of the protest.
The president’s palace distanced itself by explaining that “the prevention of a Madonna concert doesn’t fall within the President of Poland’s scope of work.” Pro Polonia’s leader vented his anger toward the President, “It is a great disappointment to me that a concert by an obscene singer on the anniversary of The Battle of Warsaw doesn’t outrage our commander-in-chief and the person, who professes to our national values.”
Warsaw’s City Hall also distanced itself from the group’s protest, stating that City Hall didn’t organize the concert. In response, committee activists are considering an appeal to the Archbishop of Warsaw to impose a punishment on the city’s mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz. “This is what happens when a catholic acts to the detriment of faith. She’ll have the right to enter the vestibule, but not accept holy sacraments”, explained the committee leader.
It appears that the democratic principle, separation of church and state, is being tested once again in Poland. Religion has played a significant role in Polish politics since the 1980’s with the Solidarity Movement and then the papacy of John Paul II. However, in recent years, a trend toward the secular has been evidenced by diminished political clout of the Solidarity Party, the death of Pope John Paul II, entrance into the European Union, and substitution of Religion (taught exclusively by Catholic priests) with Ethics as a mandatory subject in public school education.
On the other hand, Warsaw’s City Hall has demonstrably upheld the democratic principle, right of speech, by granting Pro Polonia the required authorization for public assembly right in front of City Hall doors. So with a protest, religious holiday, military celebration, and a Madonna concert, August 15 promises to be an eventful day in Warsaw. If timed just right, one might be able to hit all four events.
