The Catholic Church in Poland in the Publications of Trybuna Ludu from 1949

Abstract

This journal article discusses articles about the Catholic Church in Poland that appeared in the daily Polish newspaper Trybuna Ludu [The People’s Tribune] in 1949. This official publication of the Polish United Workers’ Party (Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza) played an important role in spreading propaganda during communist rule in the Polish People’s Republic. During this time, the communist authorities sought to subordinate and neutralize the Church. The year 1949 was particularly important in the history of the relationship between the state and the church because it was then that the communist authorities launched a media offensive against the Catholic Church. While the authorities officially claimed to guarantee religious freedom, they forbid religion from being taught in Polish schools and supported only pro-government “patriot priests.” Specifically, Trybuna Ludu reported lawsuits filed against priests who supported the anti-communist underground. An analysis of these articles demonstrates how the communist party used Trybuna Ludu as a tool to spread propaganda.