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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 1, 1983
PAGE 12
I would just like you to know that as an American youth, I greatly
appreciate your literature and the help,
give in all the work that you do. What
you work so hard, so long and what for?
it all for you? Surely it's not money.
guidance and comfort you
is amazing to me is that
What reward is there in
You ask for nothing!
You and your many associates offer all these things to everybody
and ask for nothing in return. It's unreall ... Fortunately, I've
been raised by fine Christian parents and have the background to
appreciate the many hours of dedication you give to those of us
who are seeking truth. Thank you for the road sign to the right
pathl
ON THE WORLD SCENE
S.J. (Shawnee, OK)
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
THE VATICAN "CUTS A DEAL" WITH GENERAL JARUZELSKI As the dust settles in
Poland, the most concrete short-term result of Pope John Paul II's dramatic
trip, it turns out, is an enhanced position for the Roman Catholic Church in
that troubled land. The two meetings between the pope and Polish Premier
General Wojciech Jaruzelski and, more importantly, high-level Vatican
Warsaw negotiations undertaken weeks, in some cases months, before the
pope's · trip ensured this outcome.
The Solidarity labor union movement,
though praised by the pope, has been.left to wither on the vine. Its char
ismatic leader, Lech Walesa, is in limbo.
The church, which had been
eclipsed as the moral force in Poland by the meteoric rise of Solidarity is
once more back in the saddle--"the only alternative centre of authority to
a dictatorial regime," reported the June 25, 1983 lead editorial in THE
ECONOMIST of Britain.
In his column in the June 27 NEW YORK TIMES, William Safire took a rather
dim view of the "deal" which the pope apparently cut with Poland's Commu
nist rulers.
Pope John Paul II has surprised and disappointed Lech Walesa, ar
rogated to himself the spirit of Polish nationalism, and appar
ently cut a deal with General Jaruzelski to guarantee the
Vatican's opposition to any uprising in return for an end to
martial law.
"Double-cross" is the verb not used in that startling series of
conclusions, because of its potent double meaning and the ominous
silence about what went on in the meetings of the hectic last day
of the pope's visit to his homeland. All we are permitted to see
is a worried union leader, a suddenly triumphant quisling
[Jaruzelski], and a Curia-divided Vatican that cannot decide what
public impression to transmit....
Mr. Walesa, the union leader who has personified the martyrdom of
Polish freedom..• was made to wait in publicized ignominy, and
when the meeting finally took place, the photograph was sup
pressed by the Vatican.
Later, the union leader canceled a
planned press conference and said only that he had "some hard
thinking to do about my talk with the pope."
In contrast, the film of the hastily-arranged second meeting be
tween pontiff and puppet leader showed smiles and handshakes.