No nation is immune to the advance of liberalism, however Poland is not a single story, as you point out. Regional variations exist, and arguments about Church's failings point to something people are quietly wishing for - an institution that is as morally clean as the gospel it preaches.
The transformation post 1989 left Polish church discombobulated precisely because it had to accept and get on with the realities of existing in a pluralistic society, which meant a fight for the souls of Poles in a different manner - where Communism was a clear and distinct enemy of both God and national identity, democracy meant that the moral fight was now internal, and within each person, but at the same time, the overarching liberal narrative itself proved to be the social solvent.
There are faithful about still, yet fundamentally Poles accept the European lifestyle and ideology of "enlightened consumerism" and treat it as their default that they were denied for so long. Scourges of materialism are felt, but there is little in a way of attending to these gaps, and I dare say some fall into complacency because they feel that Poland is a "bulwark" of tradition, while they themselves can enjoy freedom and modern lifestyle that this protection offers. There is little awareness that this is the exact mechanism that dooms the West - taking cultural and moral achievements of the past for granted, and squandering them because everyone expects someone else to attend the Mass or to protest against the moral dissolution.
Ironically, this attitude is in part something that Poles are guilty of time and again - partitions in 18th century were a result of elite corruption and taking of the system for granted until it was too late.
Because of the hugely inflated devotion to JPII the Polish hierarchy and clergy dove deep into "conservative" Novusordoism. And the new religion is a perfect solvent for Catholicism.
Yes, yes, thank you again for the reporting and interpretation that got Poland to this point in time. Everybody seems to do that, but few put forth recommendations. What is the solution, what is YOUR prescription to achieve what you define as the optimal outcome, or a set of good outcomes based on different scenarios? What barriers exist, and to what degree can they be destroyed and how is that done to advance your optimal outcome?
I see that with many protestants, they vaguely identify with Jesus, and take the protestant pre-destination doctrine as a 'free to sin whenever' card, because grace is enough.
Most protestants I know see no problem with fornication, swearing, masturbation etc.
Thank you Mr. Leusink for your essay. It reflects very well the state of Catholicism in Poland. Lack of catechization, of reverence, Holy Communion standing.. Thank God the FSSPX apostolate is growing. There are around 40 chapels spread across the country. FSSPX lacks priests to answer the demands of the laity.Some NO priests are switching to FSSPX. There is hope.
I certainly agree with you about Catholic America …… I am 81 years old….when I was in grade school, 4th grade to be exact, we had 2 fourth grades with 40 children in each class, with only one nun in each room, no “aides” and children who behaved.
Today, most of my “Catholic “ friends, no longer attend Mass or have changed to other religions ….. it’s a sad state of affairs and I blame it on Modernism, among other things, the synthesis of all errors, that was certainly made manifest with the Second Vatican Council.
God’s ways are mysterious and for our part we just must trust and pray, pray, pray as Our Lady of Fatima requested.
p.s. My claim is not that nobody in Poland is Catholic. It is that the 71% Catholics on paper, and only 14% communicants are not the same country.
@Peter Kwasniewski
I can see this note, but if I click on the link, I get the same message as always: “This site can’t be reached
Check if there is a typo in http://heritagestandard.eu.
If spelling is correct, try running Windows Network Diagnostics.
DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN”
There is, it should be HTTPS, https://heritagestandard.eu/
No nation is immune to the advance of liberalism, however Poland is not a single story, as you point out. Regional variations exist, and arguments about Church's failings point to something people are quietly wishing for - an institution that is as morally clean as the gospel it preaches.
The transformation post 1989 left Polish church discombobulated precisely because it had to accept and get on with the realities of existing in a pluralistic society, which meant a fight for the souls of Poles in a different manner - where Communism was a clear and distinct enemy of both God and national identity, democracy meant that the moral fight was now internal, and within each person, but at the same time, the overarching liberal narrative itself proved to be the social solvent.
There are faithful about still, yet fundamentally Poles accept the European lifestyle and ideology of "enlightened consumerism" and treat it as their default that they were denied for so long. Scourges of materialism are felt, but there is little in a way of attending to these gaps, and I dare say some fall into complacency because they feel that Poland is a "bulwark" of tradition, while they themselves can enjoy freedom and modern lifestyle that this protection offers. There is little awareness that this is the exact mechanism that dooms the West - taking cultural and moral achievements of the past for granted, and squandering them because everyone expects someone else to attend the Mass or to protest against the moral dissolution.
Ironically, this attitude is in part something that Poles are guilty of time and again - partitions in 18th century were a result of elite corruption and taking of the system for granted until it was too late.
Because of the hugely inflated devotion to JPII the Polish hierarchy and clergy dove deep into "conservative" Novusordoism. And the new religion is a perfect solvent for Catholicism.
Also makes me wonder about the damaging effects of the “Divine Mercy” devotion on Poland - a Trojan horse?
Interesting question: did Poland have more sovereignty under the Soviets or the Americans? I truly don't know the answer.
Secularism did in 20 years what state atheism could not achieve in 50 years
Nothing an Inquisition couldn’t solve. Maybe with a pogrom or two for good measure.
There aren’t many Jews left in Poland thankfully. Moczar made sure to get rid of them.
Don't forget sex. Who wants to be told to refrain from sex before marriage?
Yes, yes, thank you again for the reporting and interpretation that got Poland to this point in time. Everybody seems to do that, but few put forth recommendations. What is the solution, what is YOUR prescription to achieve what you define as the optimal outcome, or a set of good outcomes based on different scenarios? What barriers exist, and to what degree can they be destroyed and how is that done to advance your optimal outcome?
I see that with many protestants, they vaguely identify with Jesus, and take the protestant pre-destination doctrine as a 'free to sin whenever' card, because grace is enough.
Most protestants I know see no problem with fornication, swearing, masturbation etc.
Thank you Mr. Leusink for your essay. It reflects very well the state of Catholicism in Poland. Lack of catechization, of reverence, Holy Communion standing.. Thank God the FSSPX apostolate is growing. There are around 40 chapels spread across the country. FSSPX lacks priests to answer the demands of the laity.Some NO priests are switching to FSSPX. There is hope.
I certainly agree with you about Catholic America …… I am 81 years old….when I was in grade school, 4th grade to be exact, we had 2 fourth grades with 40 children in each class, with only one nun in each room, no “aides” and children who behaved.
Today, most of my “Catholic “ friends, no longer attend Mass or have changed to other religions ….. it’s a sad state of affairs and I blame it on Modernism, among other things, the synthesis of all errors, that was certainly made manifest with the Second Vatican Council.
God’s ways are mysterious and for our part we just must trust and pray, pray, pray as Our Lady of Fatima requested.