POLISH DEMOCRACY HAS UNDERGONE a series of changes from the time of its modern inception during the exciting days of Solidarnosc back in 1989. Since then it has moved from a nascent democracy, birthed under Lech Walesa, to an unforeseen reversion back to socialism, followed by a decisive move toward secular neoliberalism backed by significant Western dollars for military, cultural and economic purposes. For a while it looked as though Poland’s Catholic identity was in jeopardy as the country adopted more and more liberal tenets from the West. It was as if the words of Primate Cardinal Glemp in 1989 were coming true:

“We have withstood the onslaught of atheistic materialism, Marxism is dead.  However, I am not so sure that we can withstand the onslaught of Western (hedonistic) materialism.”

All three tenets of liberalism: economic, political and moral were being unpacked in Poland. First came profuse promises of financial assistance followed by the schooling of political leaders in civics and liberal democracy taught  by legions of libertarian ideologues representing think tanks supported by the State Department. Next, the painful Western neoliberal prescription for austerity and economic restructuring was swallowed along with a toxic sugar-coated pill of foreign investment that made it appear palatable. This was followed by foreign purchase and then control of corporate businesses and by interference in politics at all levels. After establishing a beachhead in the NGOs and multinational corporations along with control of a significant percentage of financial institutions and garnering political sway in Warsaw, the liberal cultural agenda was introduced propped up by broad scale advertisement and countless Western dollars with strings attached to ideological items such as the family, sexuality, liberal toleration of the LGBT agenda, and related issues that are all part of the liberal paradigm for freedom, freedom, that is, without a place for Christianity in the public forum. Following decades of this liberal “shock treatment”, it seemed as if Poland would collapse under the onslaught of Western materialism as foreseen by Cardinal Glemp.

The Poles, however, are a resilient people, a people with a thousand years of rich cultural history steeped in the legacy of Roman Catholicism. Poland’s cultural,  spiritual, and intellectual roots run very deep, too deep, in fact, for even such an insidious program as neoliberalism nurtured by profuse capital infusion.  The liberalizing of Poland is a top priority of the US State Department, and of the EU. Consequently, Poland “has been the largest beneficiary of subsidies from the EU”.  Poland has been infused with Western capital because it is externally important geopolitically, and because it is a show case for liberal democracy. Consequently, those who call for the toleration of anything but fell threatened by Christian developments in Poland are threatening to stop the cash flow as the ultimate “trump card” necessary to avert what they perceive as the ultimate disaster – Poland returning to its Catholic identity:

“Brussels can start to take another look at the funds that over the years have contributed so much to the Polish economic miracle (they amount to more than the entire Marshall Plan for postwar Europe in today’s dollars).”

Like other peoples around the globe, the Poles are becoming painfully aware of liberalism’s shallow promises and are beginning to see through its friendly propaganda. Poles are an intellectual people well accustomed to secularism and broad programs of propaganda that were imposed upon them by an all controlling communist regime that strained to falsely appear in favor of human rights and dignity; they are awakening to the fact that a similar program is being fed them by liberal ideologues who have taken up key positions throughout the country in a war to stealthily impose neoliberalism upon them contrary to their traditional values, contrary to their Catholic heritage. The fruits of twenty years of liberal rule are now readily apparent and people are reeling back from their negative experiences.  Communism worked against man and society, so too does liberalism. Consequently, sober Poles have quickly awoken to this reality; as they led the world against communism, they are leading the rally for a renewed Christian Europe cognizant of their reputation as the “Rampart of Europe”.

FATIMA and DIVINE MERCY

At Fatima Our Lady promised and Era of Peace and in a series of approved apparitions that took place in Poland and that have the highest approbation of the Catholic Church, Jesus Christ revealed to Saint Faustina that a change was coming and that the impetus for the change was to be the nation of Poland:

“I bear a special love for Poland (he said), and if she will be obedient to My will, I will exalt her in might and holiness. From her will come forth the spark that will prepare the world for My final coming” (Diary, 1732).

It is not surprising then, that after 20 years of liberalism the Polish people have given a political mandate to the Law and Justice Party (PiS), which has strong ties to the Catholic Church. Party leaders recently endorsed a total ban on abortion with support from the Church. Jarolaw Kaczyński, Chairman of PiS told reporters that

“In these (moral) matters, as a Catholic, I follow the teachings of the bishops.”

Under Kaczynski’s leadership, PiS not only won the presidency, it also has solid control of the parliament (SEJM), which lacks any viable liberal component for the first time in decades.

The Prime Minister of Poland, Beata Szydło,  is also the Vice Charman of PiS; she also also supports the anti-abortion legislation. As does the new Polish President, a devout Catholic Andrzej Duda.

In the United States and Argentina nuns and laity who publicly ridicule bishops, disrupt Mass, challenge priests during their homilies and desecrate sacred objects are considered heroes. These tactics are therefore adopted to ridicule the church and win public support.

In Poland, however, such acts are considered profanations, profanations which if carried out by trols, conditioned masses, or paid subversives would actually help rather than hinder the church. Thus covert actions such as these that work elsewhere are backfiring in Poland. According to Polish political scientist Marek Migalski  reaction to disruptions at Mass in Poland are similar “to the outrage in Russia when punk rockers Pussy Riot staged a 2012 protest in a Moscow cathedral, which left many ordinary Russians aghast and actually boosted support for Vladimir Putin.”

“If the face of the opposition is aggressive feminists yelling in church, then it helps PiS,” he said

The following two quotes are examples of the vitriol coming from liberal ideologues manifesting their biased anti-Christian sentiments and also manifesting the growing unity among Slavic nations, a unity which is an increasing challenge to the liberals that is not going away:

“Both Poland and Hungary now offer a toxic ideological brew that is reminiscent of interwar Europe: anti-communism and anti-capitalism can be combined and justified in the name of a highly intolerant nationalism based on Christian values that conclusively define who is a true Hungarian or true Pole.

Liberal ideologues and pundits are coming undone as they watch these developments.  Because they are unable to stop or avert them by their usual methods, they are predicting a gloomy picture for themselves as other Slavic countries of Eastern Europe join Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in the march toward Christian social renewal:

“Today we witness the emergence of a new Authoritarian International in the region, with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and possibly Croatia as potential future members alongside Hungary and Poland.“

Hungary’s largest political party is Fidesz and its third largest political party is Jobbik; are both proponents of Christian social renewal and both cooperate with PiS and other Polish patriotic movements.  Their cooperation “is rooted in a shared vision of Europe, Márton Gyöngyösi, a leader of Jobbik responsible for foreign policy, told POLITICO.”

“As opposed to liberal values based on individualism, secularism, consumerism and multiculturalism, we support the defense of the nation state, its traditions, ethnic composition and Christian values.”

Having a comprehensive view of the political landscape in front of him and and a prudential vision of what is possible in the current climate, a senior advisor to President Duda recently indicated that he thinks the time has come for change:

“Now begins the process of reconquering the country, and it may be brutal.”

As stated above, “Law and Justice (PiS) swept the table of Polish politics this year, first unexpectedly winning the presidency in May and then in October taking an outright majority in the parliament. The party now wields more clout over Poland than any government since the end of communist rule a quarter century ago” (http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-pis-politics-kaczynski-tusk/).

Poland is certainly a country to watch and to emulate.  From her will “come the spark” that will prepare the world for the final coming of Jesus Christ. She certainly seems to be living up to her destiny among nations.