Tadeusz Rydzyk

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Father Tadeusz Rydzyk (Polish: Ojciec Tadeusz Rydzyk), "Father Director", born May 3, 1945 in Olkusz, is a Roman Catholic priest and Redemptorist, a powerful religious leader and founder of Radio Maryja (a controversial catholic radio station in Poland).

[edit] Early Life and Career

Born to a poor family Tadeusz Rydzyk spent his early childhood in Olkusz. He studied at the Higher Spiritual Seminar of Redemptorists in Tuchow, and later studied biblical theology at the Catholic Theology Academy in Warsaw. He was ordained a priest in 1971. Subsequently, he taught religion in Torun, Szczecinek and Krakow.

In 1986 he left for 5 years for Germany where he gained contact with a xenophobic radio station Radio Maria International in Balderschwang (later closed by the German Catholic church). His tenure in Germany was opposed by the Catholic Church but Rydzyk ignored orders to immediately return back to Poland.

Following his return in 1991, Rydzyk made a spectacular career. He started Radio Maryja (a radio station marked by arousing controversy, which made him famous in Poland and worldwide) and initiated the creation of the nationalist newspaper Nasz Dziennik (English: Our Daily). A few years later he also started the television station Trwam (English: I Persist). Rydzyk, also known in Poland as Father Director (Polish: ojciec dyrektor), is a charismatic leader and has gathered a large group of committed followers - the Radio Maryja Family or Mohair berets.

[edit] Controversies

Father Rydzyk has been accused of spreading one-sided, polonocentric view of the world in his media, instrumental use of Catholicism as a political tool, promoting conspiracy theories (Freemasonry as an influential secular movement controlling the world and working against the Church), perceived anti-semitism, and financial corruption. See: Radio Maryja for a list of controversies.

In response, followers of Father Rydzyk admire him as their shepherd and spiritual leader. In their view Father Rydzyk preaches the gospel and teaches public prayer. They also say that the occasional hate or anti-semitic statements transmitted by Radio Maryja are rare and originate mostly from the listeners and not workers of the Radio.[1] Father Rydzyk publishes articles that aim to disclose the potential lies of other media and of liberal politicians who in his opinion attack and assault Radio Maryja.[2]

[edit] Father Rydzyk's Influence on Politics

Rydzyk and his team actively supported the victorious Law and Justice party during the 2005 election. [3] In January 2006, a journalist from the Polish tabloid Fakt (English: The Fact) phoned the minister for agriculture Krzysztof Jurgiel, claiming to be Rydzyk's assistant, and told Jurgiel that the Father's car had broken. The minister immediately sent a government limousine for Rydzyk. The reporter said he had carried out the provocation to check Father Rydzyk's influence in the government.

Moreover, when Self-Defence, League of Polish Families, and Law and Justice parties paraphed the stabilization pact, the only media, that were allowed in the room, were those run by Tadeusz Rydzyk.