Catholic Church in Lower Silesia against Communism (1945-1974)

The first work in English on the struggle of the Catholic Church in Lower Silesia with the communist regime after World War II.

Post-war Lower Silesia was intended by the communists to be a "laboratory of socialism". Hence, they developed and pursued a special policy towards the Catholic Church. The book highlights the specificity of the pastoral ministry provided by the successive rulers of the Church in Wrocaw (Karol Milik, Kazimierz Lagosz, Cardinal Bolesaw Kominek) in the realities of the communist state. It shows the role of Cardinal Kominek who was persecuted for his attitude towards communists, his activity in the Polish Episcopate and in the forum of the universal Church. Moreover, it presents the system of repression aimed at diocesan clergy and religious orders and limiting theological education. With the objective of secularising the Lower Silesian society, the communists put emphasis on promoting their ideology, especially among the young generation. The Church responded with speeches by hierarchs condemning these activities and with pastoral initiatives to slow down the process.

Préface
Post-war Lower Silesia was intended to be a "laboratory of socialism" by the communists. Hence, they developed and pursued a special policy towards the Catholic Church. The book highlights the specificity of the pastoral ministry provided by the successive rulers of the Church in Wrocaw in the realities of the communist state. It analyses, for example, the role of Cardinal Kominek and it presents the system of repression aimed at diocesan clergy and religious orders and limiting theological education. It also shows the Church's response to the process of secularization in the Lower Silesian society.

Auteur
Prof. Dr. Jan Kopiec is bishop of the Diocese of Gliwice, and professor emeritus of the University of Opole, Poland. Dr. Kazimiera Jaworska is professor and director of the Department of the History of Education of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocaw.Dr. Grzegorz Sokoowski is associate professor of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology, Poland.Dr. Bogdan Giemza is associate professor of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology, Poland.Dr. Agata Mirek is associate professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Poland.Dr. Kazimiera Jaworska is professor and director of the Department of the History of Education of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocaw.Rajmund Pietkiewicz is Professor and Vice-President of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocaw.Krzysztof Pilarczyk, Prof. Dr. Hab., was Professor of Judaic and Biblical Sciences and Religious History and Head of the Laboratory of the History of Christian-Jewish Relations at the Institute of Religious Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

Texte du rabat
Post-war Lower Silesia was intended by the communists to be a "laboratory of socialism". Hence, they developed and pursued a special policy towards the Catholic Church. The book highlights the specificity of the pastoral ministry provided by the successive rulers of the Church in Wroclaw (Karol Milik, Kazimierz Lagosz, Cardinal Boleslaw Kominek) in the realities of the communist state. It shows the role of Cardinal Kominek who was persecuted for his attitude towards communists, his activity in the Polish Episcopate and in the forum of the universal Church. Moreover, it presents the system of repression aimed at diocesan clergy and religious orders and limiting theological education. With the objective of secularising the Lower Silesian society, the communists put emphasis on promoting their ideology, especially among the young generation. The Church responded with speeches by hierarchs condemning these activities and with pastoral initiatives to slow down the process.