Cardinal warns that Polish political tensions could endanger country

Published: 2006-10-26

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A Polish cardinal has warned that his country's political tensions could endanger the state by driving away investors and impeding economic development. Cardinal Jozef Glemp of Warsaw said the bishops are concerned about "the language of accusation and hatred which dominates Polish politics." "Whatever the shape of the governing coalition, (tensions) pose a real threat to the future of the state community in which we live, work and pay our taxes," Cardinal Glemp said in a mid-October statement to business and trade union leaders. "They are creating an atmosphere of apprehension and despondency, which reduces the readiness of society and individuals to work toward increased employment, higher pay, better qualifications and national profit." Cardinal Glemp said political leaders should "be guided by reason rather than resentment in running the state" and urged a new "social accord" to protect family welfare, social security and health, which all suffered at a time when Poland faced 16 percent unemployment and a brain drain following mass emigration.

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