Jerzy Popiełuszko

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Jerzy Popiełuszko

Jerzy Popiełuszko (b. September 23, 1947 in Okopy near Suchowola – October 19, 1984) was a Catholic priest from Poland, associated with the "Solidarity" union. Murdered by the communist internal intelligence agency, the Służba Bezpieczeństwa.

Jerzy Popiełuszko was a charismatic priest who was first sent to strikers in the Warsaw Steelworks. Thereafter he was associated with workers and trade unionists from the Solidarity movement who opposed the Communist regime in Poland.

He was a staunch anti-communist, and in his sermons, interwove spiritual exhortations with political messages, criticizing the Communist system and motivating people to protest. During the period of martial law, the Catholic church was the only force that could voice protest comparatively openly, with the regular celebration of Mass presenting opportunities for public gatherings in churches.

Popiełuszko's sermons became famous throughout Poland for their uncompromising stance against the regime. The Służba Bezpieczeństwa tried to silence or intimidate him. When it did not work they fabricated evidence against him and he was arrested in 1983, but soon released on intervention of the clergy and pardoned by an amnesty.

It is reported that a car accident was set up to kill Jerzy Popiełuszko on October 13, 1984, but he escaped it. The alternative plan was to kidnap him, and it was carried out on October 19, 1984. The priest was beaten and murdered by three Security Police officers. Then, his body was dumped into the Vistula Water Reservoir near Włocławek from where it was recovered on October 30, 1984.

News of the political murder caused an uproar throughout Poland, and the murderers and one of their superiors were convicted of the crime. Despite the murder and its repercussions the Communist regime remained in power until 1989. Latest evidence shows that his murder was orchestrated by the KGB directly from Moscow^{[citation needed]}. In 1997, the Roman Catholic Church started the process of his beatification.

[edit] See also

Kill the Priest (1988) a movie directed by Agnieszka Holland
To Kill a Priest: The Murder of Father Popieluszko and the Fall of Communism by Kevin Ruane published by Gibson Square (London, 2004 [1]), 978-1-903933-54-1 / 1-903933-54-4.