PAX Association
Encyclopedia
The PAX Association was a pro-communist secular Catholic organization created in 1947 in the People's Republic of Poland
. In 1953, PAX gave its support to the Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia
, and took over the publication of the Catholic weekly magazine Tygodnik Powszechny
– until the Polish October
of 1956. The Association ceased to function only after the collapse of communism, and in 1993 was reestablished under a different name: the Catholic Association "Civitas Christiana", this time, with a true Catholic agenda.
in Stalinist Poland. Created by Bolesław Piasecki during the Stalinist rein of terror, it approved the trial and imprisonment of many Polish clergymen, among them Bishop
Czesław Kaczmarek and Cardinal
Stefan Wyszyński. PAX attempted to compete with the conservative clergy of the interwar era over public policy issues, especially after the arrest of hundreds of priests by the state security in early 1950s. The government gave it total control over the Polish branch of the Caritas
relief organisation. According to Norman Davies
PAX was an NKVD
front organisation, set up to win over Polish Catholics to communism, and to break their links to the Vatican. It maintained a presence in the Sejm
, winning for example five seats in the 1969 election
.
, even though it firmly endorsed the communist government of the People's Republic of Poland
until the fall of communism. After 1982 it was a member of the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
. Throughout the decades after its creation and the death of Stalin, it continued to steadily lose power and influence, although it still exists in modern Poland.
At all times it was financed by the government as a fake opposition. There were number of collaborators from within the clergy, who were lured by free state benefits, including lavish state pensions (unavailable to clergy otherwise).
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. In 1953, PAX gave its support to the Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia
Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia
The Stalinist show trial of the Kraków Curia was a public trial of four Roman Catholic priests – members of the Kraków diocesan Curia – including three lay persons, accused by the Communist authorities in the People's Republic of Poland of subversion and spying for the United States...
, and took over the publication of the Catholic weekly magazine Tygodnik Powszechny
Tygodnik Powszechny
Tygodnik Powszechny is a Polish Roman Catholic weekly magazine, focusing on social and cultural issues. Established in 1945 under the auspices of Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, Jerzy Turowicz was its editor-in-chief until his death in 1999. He was succeeded by priest Adam Boniecki.-History:The...
– until the Polish October
Polish October
Polish October, also known as October 1956, Polish thaw, or Gomułka's thaw, marked a change in the Polish internal political scene in the second half of 1956...
of 1956. The Association ceased to function only after the collapse of communism, and in 1993 was reestablished under a different name: the Catholic Association "Civitas Christiana", this time, with a true Catholic agenda.
Communist era
Following the Soviet takeover, PAX Association had been formed with the intention to undermine grass-roots support for the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Stalinist Poland. Created by Bolesław Piasecki during the Stalinist rein of terror, it approved the trial and imprisonment of many Polish clergymen, among them Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Czesław Kaczmarek and Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Stefan Wyszyński. PAX attempted to compete with the conservative clergy of the interwar era over public policy issues, especially after the arrest of hundreds of priests by the state security in early 1950s. The government gave it total control over the Polish branch of the Caritas
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
relief organisation. According to Norman Davies
Norman Davies
Professor Ivor Norman Richard Davies FBA, FRHistS is a leading English historian of Welsh descent, noted for his publications on the history of Europe, Poland, and the United Kingdom.- Academic career :...
PAX was an NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
front organisation, set up to win over Polish Catholics to communism, and to break their links to the Vatican. It maintained a presence in the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, winning for example five seats in the 1969 election
Polish legislative election, 1969
The Polish legislative election in 1969 was the fifth election to Sejm, held on June 1. The turnout was 97.6%.The results, like with the other elections in communist Poland, were controlled by the communist government...
.
Reforms
After 1956, together with many other similar government initiatives, it was toned down and took a more compromising position, in some regards even supporting the leniency for the anti-communist resistance in PolandAnti-communist resistance in Poland
Anti-communist resistance in Poland can be divided into two types: the armed partisan struggle, mostly led by former Armia Krajowa and Narodowe Siły Zbrojne soldiers, which ended in the late 1950s , and the non-violent, civil-resistance struggle that culminated in the creation and victory of the...
, even though it firmly endorsed the communist government of the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
until the fall of communism. After 1982 it was a member of the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
Patriotyczny Ruch Odrodzenia Narodowego was a Polish communist organization. It was created in the aftermath of the martial law in Poland...
. Throughout the decades after its creation and the death of Stalin, it continued to steadily lose power and influence, although it still exists in modern Poland.
At all times it was financed by the government as a fake opposition. There were number of collaborators from within the clergy, who were lured by free state benefits, including lavish state pensions (unavailable to clergy otherwise).
Notable members
- Bolesław Piasecki
- Tadeusz MazowieckiTadeusz MazowieckiTadeusz Mazowiecki is a Polish author, journalist, philanthropist and Christian-democratic politician, formerly one of the leaders of the Solidarity movement, and the first non-communist prime minister in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.-Biography:Mazowiecki comes from a Polish...
- Janusz Zabłocki
- Jan DobraczyńskiJan DobraczynskiJan Dobraczyński was a Polish writer and publicist. During the Second Polish Republic, he was a supporter of the Stronnictwo Narodowe and Catholic movements...