Polish Coalition Makes Jews Uneasy
The conservative minority government of Poland’s Law and Justice party has agreed to enter a coalition with two extreme-right parties. The two parties that signed the agreement, the League of Polish Families and the Self-Defense party, have a history of anti-Semitic stances. Jan Maria Jackowski, a prominent member of the League of Polish Families, has warned against Poland becoming a “land reserve” for Jewish settlement, and called accusations of pedophilia against a Polish priest a “Judeo-Communist plot.”
Good Friday March Criticized In Poland
The Simon Wiesenthal Center complained about the “anti-Semitic tenor” of a Good Friday procession not far from the Auschwitz death camp. Shimon Samuels, the center’s director for international relations, wrote to Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller that the ceremony, which included marchers with long beards and Stars of David, fueled stereotypes of Jews.
Pope’s Auschwitz Visit Finalized
Details of Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming trip to Poland have been announced by the Vatican: A stop at Auschwitz is set for the last day of the pope’s May 25-28 visit, during which he is expected to deliver a significant address. At the former Nazi death camp, he will visit the site’s Centre for Dialogue and Prayer and take part in a memorial service for Nazi victims, according to the Catholic News Service.