POLAND: REGIME CRITICISM OF THE CHURCH

Created: 2/19/1982

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

POLAND: Regime Criticism of the church

jovomnant isk* on the Church. oiooe to completing inteivet paumente on tta debt Pact exeroiao tunlatiaelg planned for next month will bt.Poland.

A radio commentator yesterday criticizedaction' by some younger priests. He claimed that they have encouraged their parishioners to resist local authorities' efforts to remove crosses from schools and public buildings, "even if shot at." The commentator also indirectly criticized the Pope by reading, etter accusing John Paul II of beint >rn politician" overcome by hatred of Communism.

Comment: The radio commentary, the second media attack on the Church in five days, apparently is part of an effort by hardliners in the regime to force moderatesroader dispute with the Church. The hardliners envy the Church's power and prestige,Solidarity out of themay be confident that they can now put the Church in its

Premier Jaruzelski and other moderates will resist takingourse because they realize that it would seriouslyivil war. They have long counted on tho efforts of the Church to maintain calm and know that many in the military are among the

Attacks on the Church will put increasing pressure on Archbishop Glcrap to voughon hie position, he will deliver his next major sermon onebruary,ob-ably will firstrivate reading from partyon the regime's intentions.

Progress on Debt Rescheduling

Poland has paid virtually private creditors

J92

ale A

Warsaw Pact Exercise

A Warsaw Pact exercise is to be held next month unaer

forces in

ndicated yesterday

that Polieb rniTTtaxypartTETpation may be limited, fie claimed that the Polestheir2 fuelduring ths long road marches to martial lawareas and that many pieces of combat equipment remain

week also would coosis activity

disrepair.lUv numbers of East German troops willnot more thanilometers inside Poland,

irlier this

lat an exercise to be hold next monthfield training followed by command staff

It

the one described March. The early release of

suggests, however, that the depict it as nonthreatening.

rcises such as to be held during .on concerning it are taking pains to

so, it likely will be interpreted by the Polish peopleignal to submit and by the regime toougher stance, aet. this probably is the Soviet intent.

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