A Prophet For Our Times

Today the Church in Poland celebrates for the first time the feast of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, the priest martyred in 1984 for daring to stand up to the country's Communist regime.  I remember the events surrounding his disappearance, the finding of his body and funeral.  His name became a slogan for freedom in the 1980's as people behind the Iron Curtain began to revolt against the oppression socialism had imposed on them for almost fifty years.  I was always cautious about Blessed Jerzy because I had thought he was too political a figure.  When his Cause was announced and proceeded, I had to wonder if he was really a martyr - his death seemed more political than religious.  When Pope Benedict recognised his martyrdom I told myself to look again, so I began to read up on his life and murder. 

It became apparent very quickly that his death was indeed martyrdom, and strangely his struggle seemed to have a relevance to Ireland and Europe in these years.   As the day of his beatification came closer, legislation was passing through our parliament which enshrined in law unions which we, as Christians, believe to be deeply immoral.  The legislation, establishing Civil Partnerships for same-sex couples, undermined the special relationship marriage has in our country, and seemed to criminalise Christian morality.  That legislation was passed.   In a homily I reminded politicians who claimed to be members in good standing of the Church, that according to the Gospel and Christian morality, they could not support that legislation, quoting the CDF's document on the issue.  It opened a can of worms and even the Minister for Justice, who was sponsoring the legislation, condemned me in the press.  An interesting side issue emerged when he said that he left his faith and conscience outside the door of the cabinet room - it had no place in his work as a public representative.  Cue: John F. Kennedy's speech to Protestant ministers in Houston.  The affair also led the Minister for the Environment and leader of the Green Party, to insist that the Church and her bishops should stick to the spiritual needs of their flock and not intrude in matters political.  In response to this diktat, Archbishop Martin of Dublin had to remind the same Minister than only a year before he had asked the bishops of Ireland to help the government get the EU Lisbon Treaty passed by openly supporting it!   I think we know that to be double standards.

Blessed Jerzy was also told by the Polish government to keep his nose out of "political matters" - of course those matters were actually religious and moral issues - human freedom and religious freedom.  So too in Ireland - the issue of marriage is a human issue, a moral issue, and as the government has now enshrined penalties in law for those who, in conscience, cannot cooperate with what they believe is immoral, it is also an issue of religious freedom.  In the end the bill was rushed through parliament without a vote, thus undermining the process of democracy: this was hailed as "mature" by the same politicians.  I had thought, stupidly, that I had the right as a citizen of this nation to say what I believed,  but what I said did not accord with the agenda of the ruling power of our country, so it seems I do not.  I also thought that, as a pastor, I could remind my flock of what their Lord and Saviour taught them with regard to certain moral issues: again, it seems I was wrong in that.  My government tells me I cannot preach the Church's moral teaching from the pulpit.  I was branded as an interfering priest like (but certainly not on a parr with) St Thomas Beckett and Blessed Jerzy. 

I thought Blessed Jerzy was too political a figure, but I was wrong, and I know why from personal experience.  Should the Church and her ministers engage in matters which are classed as political?  If they affect her, yes.  The Church cannot and should not be silenced in the public square.  Blessed Jerzy, in condemning the abuses of a tyrannical regime, spoke up for the oppressed as any Christian pastor should, and defended the rights of the Church and her members.  The Church reserves the right to do the same.  A democratic government will respect that and even listen to what the Church has to say instead of condemning her and attempting to undermine her. 

Blessed Jerzy has since helped me in so many ways, particularly when dealing with the condemnation of a member of our government, and I am humbled by his prayers and presence.  Since then I have been given a first class relic of Blessed Jerzy, and I treasure it - it is on the altar of my little chapel.  I believe he is a saint for our times, given the gradual growth of secularism and increasing powers of the state.  I think we should pray for his speedy canonisation, and his assistance in these difficult times.

Almighty God,
by whose grace and power your holy martyr Blessed Jerzy
triumphed over suffering and was faithful unto death:
strengthen us with your grace,
that we may endure reproach and persecution
and faithfully bear witness to the name
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Trailer of a new movie about Blessed Jerzy: