Wydział do Spraw Wyznań Prezydium Wojewódzkiej Rady Narodowej we Wrocławiu wobec procesji Bożego Ciała w latach 1950-1965
The Department for Religious Affairs of the Presidium of the Voivodeship National Council in Wrocław vis-à-vis the Corpus Christi procession between 1950–1965

Summary/Abstract: Public worship between 1950–1989 in Poland was considered hostile to the idea of secular state. The state authorities regarded the Catholic Church as an ideological enemy and sought to limit the freedom of conscience and religion of citizens, pushing religion into the private sphere. Similar tactics were used in relation to one of the most important Catholic holidays – Corpus Christi. The denominational administration in Wrocław tried to limit religious expression in public spaces on that day. The assembly law, which gave the instruments to license religious processions, was used for this purpose. The measures taken by the state authorities against the Catholic Church and its believers violated the legal standards of the time. The laws were often interpreted expansively or ignored altogether. Numerous restrictions were imposed on participants of processions and the pressure was exerted, for example, through workplaces. In addition, the state authorities competed with the Catholic Church by organizing numerous alternatives. Open-air events, excursions and sports competitions were supposed to draw the faithful away from religious ceremonies. These efforts directly violated the standards of state-church separation.

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