Jerzy Popieluszko
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Jerzy_Popieluszko.jpg
Jerzy Popiełuszko (b. September 23 1947 in Opochy near Suchowola - October 19 1984) - Polish Catholic priest, associated with Solidarity and murdered by the Security Forces.
Jerzy Popiełuszko was a charismatic priest who was first sent to strikers in the Warsaw Steelworks. Thereafter he was associated with workers and trade unionists from the Solidarity movement who opposed the Communist regime in Poland.
He was an adamant anti-communist and in his sermons he interwove spiritual exhortations with political messages, criticizing the Communist system and motivating people to protest. The Catholic Church was, during the period of martial law, the only force that could voice protest comparatively openly, with the regular celebration of Mass presenting opportunities for public gatherings in churches.
Popiełuszko's sermons became famous throughout Poland for their uncompromising stance against the regime. The Security Forces tried to silence or intimidate him. When it did not work they fabricated evidence against him and he was arrested in 1983 but soon released on intervention of the clergy and pardoned by an amnesty.
It is said that a car accident was set up to kill Jerzy Popiełuszko on October 13, 1984 but he escaped it. The alternative plan was to kidnap him and it was carried out on October 19, 1984. The priest was beaten, tortured and murdered by three Security Police officers. His body was dumped into the Vistula Water Reservoir near Włocławek where it was recovered on October 30, 1984.
The news of the political murder caused an uproar throughout Poland, and the murderers and one of their superiors were convicted of the crime. Despite the murder and its repercussions the Communist regime was in power until 1989.
External links
- Interview with Popieluszko for BBC, on September 1984 (http://polskaludowa.com/dzwiek/nagrania/Popieluszko_wywiad_BBC.mp3)cs:Jerzy Popiełuszko
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