Tadeusz Rydzyk
Encyclopedia
Tadeusz Rydzyk born May 3, 1945 in Olkusz
, Poland, is a Roman Catholic priest
and Redemptorist, creator and head of the conservative and controversial Radio Maryja
radio station, rector and doctor of the University of Social and Medial Culture in Toruń
.
, and later at the Catholic Theology Academy in Warsaw
. He was ordained a priest in 1971 and taught religion in Toruń
, Szczecinek
and Kraków
. In 1986 Rydzyk left for West Germany
where he was involved with a radio station Radio Maria International in Balderschwang (later closed by the Catholic Church authorities). His tenure in West Germany
was opposed by the Church hierarchy, but he remained there for 5 years.
Following his return to Poland in 1991, Rydzyk started Radio Maryja
, the second world-wide Catholic radio station (the first being Vatican Radio
). He established the nationalist newspaper Nasz Dziennik
('Our Daily') and the television station Trwam ('I Persist'). A high proportion of Radio Maryja listeners and Rydzyk followers tend to be older people.
On 8 October 2009, Rydzyk earned a PhD in Theology
from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. The degree enabled him to reassume the post of President of the University of Social and Medial Culture in Toruń, from which he had to resign due to changes in law requiring that such posts be held only by persons with a doctorate.
Rydzyk applied for the funds of the European Union
alloted to boost Polish businesses and researchers from 2007-2013 on the grounds that his school is an "incubator for modern technology in the service of civil society."
magazine published part of a lecture given by Rydzyk in which he called the president's wife Maria Kaczyńska
a "witch who should euthanize
herself". He was also to claim that the president had cheated him. Rydzyk refused to apologize, saying that the sound recording was "a manipulation" and a result of a "fight of spirits". The official Vatican
website states that Rydzyk's radio station "became much more involved in spreading risky politics than in spreading the Gospel
." Several Polish bishops also condemned Rydzyk's Radio Maryja for promoting anti-Semitic teaching. In 2007, the BBC reported that Rydzyk had allegedly referred to the then Polish President, Lech Kaczynski
, as someone who was under the influence of Jews. The support of Rydzyk and his radio for the death penalty brought him into direct conflict with Catholic teaching, which is against such a practice.
In February 2011, Rydzyk was fined 3500 zlotys after the local district court in Toruń
found that he broke the law by using Radio Maryja to call for donations to TV Trwam, the University of Social and Media Culture and the geothermal drilling conducted by the Lux Veritatis Foundation.
In June 2011, while meeting members of the European Parliament
, he called Poland "an uncivilized country" and "a totalitarian regime", as well saying that it was not ruled by Poles. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested against these statements and sent a diplomatic note to the Holy See
, to which Catholic religious orders, including the Redemptorists, are subject.
Olkusz
Olkusz is a town in south Poland with 37,696 inhabitants . Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship , it is the capital of Olkusz County...
, Poland, is a Roman Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Redemptorist, creator and head of the conservative and controversial Radio Maryja
Radio Maryja
Radio Maryja is a Polish religious, conservative, anti-post-Communist and pro-life Roman Catholic radio station and media group, describing itself as patriotic. It was founded in Toruń, Poland, on December 9, 1991 and has been run since its inception by the Redemptorist rector doctor Tadeusz...
radio station, rector and doctor of the University of Social and Medial Culture in Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
.
Life and career
Tadeusz Rydzyk spent his childhood in Olkusz. He studied at the Higher Spiritual Seminary of Redemptorists in TuchówTuchów
Tuchów is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with a population of 6,476 .- History :The history of Tuchów is very rich and interesting. The first historical note about Tuchów dates back to 1105...
, and later at the Catholic Theology Academy in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. He was ordained a priest in 1971 and taught religion in Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
, Szczecinek
Szczecinek
Szczecinek [] is a city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland with some 39,777 inhabitants . Previously in Koszalin Voivodeship , it has been the capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. In 1986 Rydzyk left for West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
where he was involved with a radio station Radio Maria International in Balderschwang (later closed by the Catholic Church authorities). His tenure in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
was opposed by the Church hierarchy, but he remained there for 5 years.
Following his return to Poland in 1991, Rydzyk started Radio Maryja
Radio Maryja
Radio Maryja is a Polish religious, conservative, anti-post-Communist and pro-life Roman Catholic radio station and media group, describing itself as patriotic. It was founded in Toruń, Poland, on December 9, 1991 and has been run since its inception by the Redemptorist rector doctor Tadeusz...
, the second world-wide Catholic radio station (the first being Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
). He established the nationalist newspaper Nasz Dziennik
Nasz Dziennik
Nasz Dziennik is a Polish daily newspaper, published in Warsaw since 1998 by Spes Ltd., with the circulation of about 150,000 as of 2007. Alternate sources have listed its 1999 circulation at 250,000; and its 1998 readership at 600,000...
('Our Daily') and the television station Trwam ('I Persist'). A high proportion of Radio Maryja listeners and Rydzyk followers tend to be older people.
On 8 October 2009, Rydzyk earned a PhD in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. The degree enabled him to reassume the post of President of the University of Social and Medial Culture in Toruń, from which he had to resign due to changes in law requiring that such posts be held only by persons with a doctorate.
Rydzyk applied for the funds of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
alloted to boost Polish businesses and researchers from 2007-2013 on the grounds that his school is an "incubator for modern technology in the service of civil society."
Controversies
On 9 July 2007, WprostWprost
Wprost is a weekly newsmagazine in Poland. It was founded on December 5, 1982 as a regional magazine in Greater Poland, but since 1989 it has been distributed nationwide. The editorial office is currently located in Warsaw. Wprost is an opinion weekly focused on politics and society. Marek Król is...
magazine published part of a lecture given by Rydzyk in which he called the president's wife Maria Kaczyńska
Maria Kaczynska
Maria Kaczyńska was the First Lady of Poland from 2005-10 as the wife of Lech Kaczyński, late President of Poland.-Early and personal life:Born as Maria Helena Mackiewicz in Machowo to Lidia and Czesław Mackiewicz. Her father fought in the Vilnius Armia Krajowa , while an uncle fought in the...
a "witch who should euthanize
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
herself". He was also to claim that the president had cheated him. Rydzyk refused to apologize, saying that the sound recording was "a manipulation" and a result of a "fight of spirits". The official Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
website states that Rydzyk's radio station "became much more involved in spreading risky politics than in spreading the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
." Several Polish bishops also condemned Rydzyk's Radio Maryja for promoting anti-Semitic teaching. In 2007, the BBC reported that Rydzyk had allegedly referred to the then Polish President, Lech Kaczynski
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
, as someone who was under the influence of Jews. The support of Rydzyk and his radio for the death penalty brought him into direct conflict with Catholic teaching, which is against such a practice.
In February 2011, Rydzyk was fined 3500 zlotys after the local district court in Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
found that he broke the law by using Radio Maryja to call for donations to TV Trwam, the University of Social and Media Culture and the geothermal drilling conducted by the Lux Veritatis Foundation.
In June 2011, while meeting members of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, he called Poland "an uncivilized country" and "a totalitarian regime", as well saying that it was not ruled by Poles. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested against these statements and sent a diplomatic note to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, to which Catholic religious orders, including the Redemptorists, are subject.
See also
- Redemptorists
- Far-right
- Politics of PolandPolitics of PolandThe politics of Poland take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government of a multi-party system and the President is the head of state....
- Henryk JankowskiHenryk JankowskiFather Henryk Jankowski was a Polish Roman Catholic priest. Member of Solidarity movement and one of the leading priests supporting that movement in opposition to the communist government in the 1980s, he was also a long serving provost of St. Bridget's church in Gdańsk...