A protester was thrown out of a Polish church last weekend after unfurling a banner which quoted St John Paul II as saying “racism is a sin”.
Gabriela Lazarek was protesting at a Mass in Warsaw attended by Catholics participating in a Polish Independence Day march. An estimated 60,000 Poles took part in the annual event, which marks Poland regaining independence in 1918.
According to the Polish newspaper Ośrodek Kontroli Obywatelskiej, the Mass was celebrated by Fr Roman Kneblewski, known for his “nationalist” views, and many of those in attendance wore political insignia.
Mrs Lazarek said that she had not intended to unfurl the banner inside the church, but that during the homily the priest invoked the teaching of John Paul II, and she was so shocked that she stood up and displayed it there and then.
At this point, Mrs Lazarek claims, several attendees pulled her out of the church, shouting, “Get out! Get out of here!”
The full message on Mrs Lazarek’s banner read (in English translation): “Racism is a sin that constitutes a serious offence against God.”
Although the march was not specifically organised by the Far Right, politically extreme slogans were displayed on banners, such as “Pure Poland, white Poland!” and “Pray for Islamic Holocaust.”
Political tensions are often visible within the Polish Church. Last month hundreds of thousands of Poles prayed the rosary around the Polish border to mark the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Some observers suggested that the act was hostile to migrants – a claim rejected by organisers.
Pope bans Vatican cigarette sales as they ‘put lives at risk’
The Pope has banned the sale of cigarettes in Vatican City State because of his concern about the health effects of smoking.
Starting in 2018, the Vatican “will cease to sell cigarettes to employees”, said Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman. “The reason is very simple: the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people. According to the World Health Organisation, every year smoking is the cause of more than seven million deaths throughout the world.”
The Vatican used to be known as a safe haven for smokers. That changed in 2002, when Vatican City prohibited smoking in offices and public places. But cigarettes continued to be sold to staff at the Vatican.
Burke said that while cigarette sales were a “source of revenue for the Holy See, no profit can be legitimate if it puts lives at risk”.
The Church has never defined smoking as a sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the gift of physical health requires “reasonable care” of the body, and more specifically says: “The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco or medicine.”
Francis writes to blind soldier
Pope Francis has sent a handwritten letter to a Colombian soldier who lost his sight during the country’s civil war.
The Pope met Edwin Restrepo, a retired marine, during his visit in September. He wrote saying he often prayed for Restrepo and his fallen and injured colleagues and had put his hat – a gift representing the military – above an altar in his office in Rome. Restrepo described it as a “beautiful gesture”.
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