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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  9/20/2017 
TAGS: PREL SOCI PHUM SCUL PL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE:  DISCUSSING FATHER RYDZYK 
 
REF: STATE 100294 
 
VATICAN 00000139  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, DCM, EXEC, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
¶1. (C) Summary.  Department's Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues 
met key officials from the Holy See and the Redemptorist order 
to discuss the case of Radio Maryja and the impact of Father 
Rydzyk's anti-Semitic remarks on Polish restutition efforts. 
Church officials spoke cautiously but took careful note of the 
information and the level of USG concern.  The Holy See 
predicted that Polish bishops would address the matter seriously 
at their next plenary in October, and the head of Rydzyk's order 
made clear his readiness to act firmly if/if adequate evidence 
can be provided to substantiate charges against Rydzyk.  Embassy 
Vatican hopes such evidence can be provided by Department and 
Embassy Warsaw.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador J. Christian Kennedy, the Department's 
Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, met Holy See and 
Redemptorist officials in Rome September 18-19 to discuss the 
USG's policy of supporting the new European democracies' efforts 
to provide restitution of, or pay partial compensation for, 
properties stolen from victims of the Nazis and Communists.  He 
also talked about the overall mission of his office, 
anti-Semitism, and especially the case of Radio Maryja and 
Father Rydzyk in Poland. Kennedy, accompanied by DCM, met Father 
Joseph William Tobin, the Superior General of the Redemptorist 
Order; Bishop Brian Farrell, Vice President of the Commission 
for Religious Relations with Jews; Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, 
Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education; and 
Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Undersecretary for Relations with 
States (equivalent to deputy foreign minister). 
 
--------------------- 
Redemptorists 
--------------------- 
 
¶3. (C)  Ambassador Kennedy provided a detailed explanation of 
his mission, emphasizing the importance of giving a measure of 
justice through restitution and compensation to Holocaust 
survivors, victims' heirs, and others who suffered horribly in 
WWII.  Getting into greater detail, Kennedy raised the obstacles 
created by the anti-Semitic comments of Father Rydzyk made on 
Radio Maryja and other media in Poland, especially those cited 
in a July edition of the Polish news magazine "Wprost".  Kennedy 
emphasized that we see two intertwined problems with Radio 
Maryja, Rydzyk, and the statements attributed to both and never 
denied.  First, the anti-Semitic tendencies in Radio Maryja 
programming are unacceptable.  Second, remarks like those 
asserted -- and never disavowed by Rydzyk -- in the "Wprost" 
article impede justice for victims by inflaming the political 
environment in Poland. 
 
¶4. (C)  Father Tobin, an American with long experience, briefly 
explained his position.  The Redemptorist order, founded in 
1732, was for most of its history very centralized (like the 
Jesuits).  After 1969, however, the influence of Vatican II led 
to changes, and now the Redemptorists are very de-centralized, 
so that local provinces retain considerable autonomy.  Tobin can 
and does intervene directly on issues when appropriate, but must 
act with great care and deliberation.  Tobin said that the 
Rydzyk case is a neuralgic one, and Polish bishops have often 
raised it with him -- both opponents and supporters.  Tobin met 
with the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See on this issue in 
2006 and asked him to provide evidence (such as transcripts) to 
document the charge of anti-Semitism.  To date he has not 
received this evidence.  The problem, said Tobin, is that Rydzyk 
speaks in code, so that listeners understand him perfectly well 
without him actually using incriminating language.  Tobin said 
he had also written to Rabbi Rosen in Jerusalem, and has spoken 
to American Jewish groups about Rydzyk.  Tobin said he would be 
sending two assistants to Poland the week of September 24 to 
follow up on the matter. 
 
¶5. (C) Tobin called Rydzyk to Rome in July of this year, along 
with his provincial supervisor, and asked him directly about the 
reported anti-Semitic comments.  Rydzyk denied making any such 
statements "three times", said Tobin, who noted that the Polish 
Redemptorists are very defensive now. 
 
¶6. (C) Kennedy said in conclusion that the USG takes the 
position that anti-Semitic comments like those attributed to 
Rydzyk and other Radio Maryja personalities are unacceptable and 
unworthy of figures of great public influence, and especially 
organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church.  He 
also noted that there is a terrible contradiction between a 
Polish radio station associated with the Roman Catholic Church 
broadcasting virulently anti-Semitic material and the enormous 
body of work undertaken by the late Pope John Paul II to create 
an amicable, new Jewish-Catholic relationship.  The USG believes 
Rydzyk and Radio Maryja should stop making anti-Semitic 
statements and impeding Polish efforts to provide a measure of 
justice through compensation.  He added that his office would 
see if it could provide some direct evidence to substantiate 
further what we believe are remarks made by Rydzyk or others in 
 
VATICAN 00000139  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
the Radio Maryja media group that includes Nasz Dziennik and TV 
Trwam. 
 
¶7. (C) Tobin said he was very grateful for the explanations 
about USG policy in support of compensation and restitution and 
that he recognized how the issue of fundamental justice was 
involved in the question of Radio Maryja and remarks attributed 
to Rydzyk.  Emphasizing the importance of providing at least a 
measure of justice for Holocaust victims and survivors, he 
expressed interest in staying in touch on these issues. 
 
¶8. (C) Note:  In an aside, Tobin acknowledged that he was very 
unhappy at the August photo of Rydzyk with Pope Benedict XVI, 
and that "the Pope knows I want to see him about this".  While 
he declined to elaborate, it seems clear that the photo was 
arranged without Tobin's knowledge or permission, and he implied 
that the Vatican had served the Pope poorly in permitting this 
photo to occur. 
 
---------------- 
Holy See 
-------------- 
 
¶9. (C) The meeting with Bishop Farrell was brief due to 
scheduling constraints, but nevertheless valuable.  Farrell said 
European Jewish groups largely follow the lead of their American 
and Israeli counterparts, and that the "European" Jewish voice, 
such as it is, remains muted. The Holy See's dialogue with Jews, 
which began over 40 years ago, only began to become truly 
productive in the past few years, as centuries of mistrust began 
to be overcome.  Jews today fear the new challenge of Islam, as 
do we, said Farrell.  He emphasized the overriding importance to 
the Church of the threat to Christians in the Holy Land, noting 
that unfortunately there has been little progress to date on 
this matter in talks with Israel.  Farrell said that many 
Israeli Jews are not very familiar with Christianity, while 
international Jewish organizations are both familiar and 
sensitive, but haven't been able to produce results in Israel. 
The "new anti-Semitism" appearing in Europe today is unlike the 
"old" antisemitism in that it doesn't arise from opposition to 
Judaism so much as from the phenomenon of marginalized and 
radicalized groups in Europe. 
 
¶10. (C) The meeting with Monsignor Parolin was also productive. 
Parolin noted that the Holy See had its own problems with 
restitution of property following the collapse of communist 
regimes in Eastern Europe, and it remains an unresolved issue 
today.  For example, the Czech restitution law for Jews has been 
successful, but the Church still needs help.  Kennedy reviewed 
the status of restitution legislation and implementation in 
various countries; coming to Poland, he emphasized that while 
communal property law implementation was slower than desirable, 
there is some activity on this front.  Restitution of private 
property has now become the critical issue.  USG policy is to 
encourage restitution first, and only then compensation, though 
we recognize that with the passage of time restitution becomes 
increasingly complicated.  We also urge that there be a single 
law for all claimants.  Kennedy noted that the Polish government 
has estimated a total cost for private property settlement of 
6-8 billion USD (Warsaw would require separate legislation whose 
implementation would cost 2-4 billion USD, according to GOP 
figures shared with us).  While some of this would go to 
expatriates, the same GOP sources estimate that most of the 
money would remain in Poland and would probably benefit the 
Polish economy.  Parolin, observing that he would be in Poland 
on or about October 13, said the Holy See agreed that 
restitution/compensation constitutes justice. 
 
¶11. (C) Kennedy then raised the specific problem of Radio Maryja 
and Father Rydzyk, which has upset many Americans.  Rydzyk's 
anti-Semitism is unworthy of the Church.  He has never publicly 
denied making the remarks he is accused of, leading the public 
to believe that the charges are accurate.  Rydzyk's influence 
(especially his wildly inflated estimate of the costs, eightfold 
greater than the GOP's) further weakens the possibilities for 
restitution in Poland.  Kennedy recognized that Radio Maryja 
provides many valuable services (such as broadcasting the Mass 
to shut-ins) but emphasized that the USG believes this 
anti-Semitic rhetoric should stop.  Kennedy emphasized also that 
the issue of giving Holocaust survivors a measure of justice in 
their lifetime would also have a fundamentally moral character. 
Parolin agreed that the aspect of justice was an important 
consideration.  Parolin also noted that Cardinal Bertone (the 
Holy See Secretary of State, second only to the Pope) was in 
Poland recently and had said that Radio Maryja is an internal 
Polish matter, and that the Holy See cannot intervene directly. 
Parolin added that the president of the Polish Bishops 
Conference, Archbishop Michalik, had said that Catholic radio 
ought not to broadcast such remarks.  Kennedy replied that 
shortly after saying this, Michalik had publicly praised Radio 
Maryja -- thus sending a mixed message.  It would be helpful, 
said Kennedy, if Michalik could emphasize instead the positive 
 
VATICAN 00000139  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
work of the Church toward relations with Jews, building on the 
excellent foundational work done by Pope John Paul II and 
continued by Pope Benedict XVI. 
 
¶12. (C) Parolin, expressing a degree of confidence, said that 
Polish bishops understand some things need to be fixed.  Citing 
Michalik again, Parolin predicted that Polish bishops would 
would address the Rydzyk matter at their next plenary in 
October.  He also noted the existence of a group established for 
the pastoral care of Radio Maryja.  Later in the conversation 
Kennedy pressed Parolin again on how sure he was that the Polish 
bishops would address the Rydzyk issue at their next meeting. 
Parolin repeated that he felt reasonably sure the Polish 
episcopate would address it. 
 
¶13. (C)  Unlike the other Holy See interlocutors, Cardinal 
Grocholewski -- while pleased to be consulted -- declined to 
engage seriously on the issue of Radio Marjya and anti-Semitism 
in Poland, instead taking refuge behind the argument that this 
did not fall into his area of responsibility. 
 
Comment 
-------------- 
¶14. (C) Ambassador Kennedy's visit (and his detailed 
presentation) succeeded in raising Holy See awareness of both 
the Rydzyk problem and the degree to which the United States is 
concerned about it.  While our interlocutors were certainly 
aware of the controversy beforehand, most had not felt directly 
involved, considering it more of a Polish matter.  This attitude 
persists, but the pace of the Holy See's slow machinery should 
now move up a notch. Parolin in particular, despite his 
typically cautious phrasing, will ensure that Vatican foreign 
policy takes greater account of Radio Maryja's international 
profile. 
 
¶15. (C) Most valuable was the meeting with Father Tobin, who 
also has the most immediate potential to address the problem. 
He came across as a practical and responsible man who is willing 
to take the necessary steps to rein in Rydzyk -- if he can be 
persuaded that a clear-cut case exists.  To that end we hope 
that Embassy Warsaw and the Department can provide more concrete 
evidence of inflammatory statements by Radio Maryja and/or 
Father Rydzyk, which Embassy Vatican is prepared to raise 
promptly with Tobin. 
 
¶16. (U)  Ambassador Kennedy has cleared this message. 
SANDROLINI