FR. JERZY POPIEŁUSZKO – VICTIM OF POLITICAL REPRESSION OR MARTYR OF THE FAITH? Cover Image

Ks. Jerzy Popiełuszko – ofiara politycznej represji czy męczennik za wiarę
FR. JERZY POPIEŁUSZKO – VICTIM OF POLITICAL REPRESSION OR MARTYR OF THE FAITH?

Author(s): Milena Kindziuk
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Political history, Social history, Recent History (1900 till today)
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe Franciszka Salezego (TNFS)
Keywords: Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko; Masses for the Fatherland in Poland; martial law in Poland; martyr for the faith

Summary/Abstract: There is an ongoing debate on the character of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko’s activity between 1980 and 1984, as well as the major motives for his abduction and murder on October 19, 1984 perpetrated by officers of the Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Pol. SB). The present paper argues that treating this activity and death in a purely political way constitutes a fundamental misunderstanding of the priest’s attitude or a conscious propaganda. An analysis of the priest’s activities, motives behind his pastoral commitment, the course of the Holy Masses for the Fatherland as well as the content of his sermons, shows that he was guided by religious, pastoral and spiritual reasons, and his death was martyrdom for the faith.

  • Issue Year: 38/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 117-128
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish