Poland’s bishops marked their country’s centenary of independence by warning freedom could be lost again if Poles abandon their Catholic Faith.
In a pastoral letter for the November 11 centenary, the bishops said love of homeland was a divine command and was expressed through “daily civic honesty, readiness to serve and dedication to the common good”.
“Our homeland’s painful history should sensitise us to threats to the nation’s spiritual freedom and sovereignty,” the bishops said.
They said independence required not just “armed struggle, and political and diplomatic efforts,” but “resolute Faith and prayer”.
They said Poland was being “morally and spiritually weakened” by “a spreading captivity, especially among young Poles, from alcohol, drugs, pornography, internet threats, gambling, etc…”
“Celebrating this anniversary impels us to reflect on Poland’s current state and the dangers to its sovereign existence. The gravest of these arise from abandoning the Catholic Faith and the Christian principles governing our national life and state’s functioning. This has already led in the past to our republic’s collapse.”
“Among our national shortcomings, we increasingly witness the voice of private interests, individual and group egoism, lack of regard for the common good, and slander and abuse of the Catholic Faith and Polish national traditions,” the bishops said.