Poland - Prosecutor to start investigation into priest controversial remarks

A Polish prosecutor will start an investigation into the controversial statements made last year by Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the founder of Radio Maryja, a Catholic radio station known for its anti-Semitic broadcasts, press reports said.

The decision to start an investigation, decided by a court in Torun, is a response to a complaint by a Polish Jewish organization against the anti-Semitic statements that were made by, or attributed to the priest.

Father Rydzyk was quoted at a meeting with university students last summer as accusing Jews of greed in a government compensation deal on confiscated property.

He also reportedly denounced Poland's President Lech Kaczynski as a "fraudster who is in the pockets of the Jewish lobby."

The priest has denied making the inflammatory remarks but popular magazine Wprost claims to have a recording of Rydzyk’s statements.

Jewish group had called on Pope Benedict XVI to condemn the statements and to discipline Father Rydzyk and his broadcast outlet.

Source: http://www.ejpress.org/

Date: Jan 30, 2008

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