Polish police analyze tapes of alleged anti-Semitic comments by priest - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., February 14, 2008 Adar1 8, 5768

Israel Time: 13:31 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Last update - 19:17 09/08/2007

Polish police analyze tapes of alleged anti-Semitic comments by priest

By The Associated Press

Polish prosecutors are analyzing audio tapes that purport to feature a powerful priest making anti-Semitic remarks and calling the president's wife a witch, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The priest, the Rev. Tadeusz Rydzyk, runs a conservative media empire that includes Radio Maryja, a station that has broadcast anti-Semitic programming in the past - leading many Rydzyk critics to believe that he did indeed make the comments that are on the tape - supposedly from a lecture made in the spring.

Rydzyk has not denied giving the speech, but his reaction has been somewhat contradictory. He suggested the tapes were doctored - but without specifying which parts of his speech might have been altered. But he has rejected accusations of anti-Semitism and said he didn't intend to offend anyone.

	Advertisement

His purported comments have sparked the outrage of Israel and Jewish groups. The Israeli ambassador called them the worst case of anti-Jewish language Poland has seen since an anti-Semitic campaign in 1968 that drove thousands of Jews to flee the country.

Prosecutors in the central city of Torun received the tapes on Tuesday from the weekly magazine Wprost. The tapes are said to be of a lecture Rydzyk gave last spring, prosecutors' spokeswoman Ewa Janczur said.

Wprost last month published excerpts and posted audio clips on its Web site from the lecture, given to students this spring at a journalism school Rydzyk established in Torun, where Radio Maryja is headquartered.

On the tapes, the speaker purported to be Rydzyk suggests that Jews are greedy and that Polish President Lech Kaczynski is subservient to Jewish lobbyists.

The speaker also appeared to criticize the first lady's support for abortion rights, called her a witch, and suggested she should kill herself.

Janczur said prosecutors were examining the tapes before deciding whether to launch a criminal investigation. The decision would be announced after August 22, she said.

Israel's ambassador to Poland has urged Polish and Roman Catholic authorities to condemn Rydzyk.

Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI met briefly with Rydzyk and two other Polish priests after the pontiff's weekly public blessing Sunday in Castel Gandolfo, his summer home.

The Vatican issued assurances Thursday that the Pope's meeting with Rydzyk, which drew protests from worldwide Jewish organizations, did not imply any change in the church's desire for good relations with Jews.

Poland, Pope, anti-Semitism, Tadeusz Rydzyk

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	What's up, doc?
	Hamas airs television show featuring 'Jew-eating' Bugs Bunny look-alikes.


	Gaza Trip
	Livni takes 70 ambassadors on a visit to the Gaza Strip as part of diplomatic campaign.




1.	Are You Kidding Me??	19:09	\|	chet	09/08/07

2.	Sorry but where is the rabid antisemitism here?	19:17	\|	Don camillo	09/08/07

3.	more quotes please	19:34	\|	Jake in Texas	09/08/07

4.	more quotes and context	19:37	\|	Jake in Texas	09/08/07

5.	quotes and context, part3	19:39	\|	Jake in Texas	09/08/07

6.	context, part deux	21:01	\|	yilde	09/08/07

7.	What happend to free speech?	21:03	\|	Morris Freidman III	09/08/07

8.	Analyze? Use your ears...not very difficult or high tech.	22:35	\|	Tal	09/08/07

9.	#6 good one Yilde!	22:37	\|	Don Camillo	09/08/07

10.	#7 is a non-jew anti-semite!	01:08	\|	Peter	10/08/07

11.	Polish priest	08:15	\|	sweis Melbourne	11/08/07

12.	Don Camillo	08:19	\|	sweis Melbourne	11/08/07

13.	Rev. Rydzyk	23:02	\|	Chris	11/08/07

14.	Jake 4	03:28	\|	realism	12/08/07

15.	chrys, chrys	07:31	\|	sweis Melbourne	12/08/07

16.	Freedman	07:34	\|	sweis Melbourne	12/08/07

17.	Jake	07:39	\|	sweis Melbourne	12/08/07

18.	sweis 16	11:39	\|	realism	12/08/07

19.	TO MANY	21:53	\|	JOJO (USA)	12/02/08

20.	M F III	21:57	\|	JOJO (USA)	12/02/08

21.	Anti semetic priest	13:16	\|	Susan	14/02/08

Today Online


	Israeli embassies on high alert following Mughniyah killing
	Responses: 32


	Yossi Melman: It's not whether Hezbollah will respond, but how
	Responses: 31


	IDF experts suggest 'surprise' roadblocks instead of checkpoints
	Responses: 11


	Ari Shavit: The Israeli Barak is not like the American Barack
	Responses: 2


	U.S., Israel have always busied themselves in each other's political world
	Responses: 1

Rosner's Domain

Was the U.S. involved in the killing of Mughniyah?

Jewish vote in Maryland: Why was Clinton on top?

Poll: Was killing Mughniyah both justified and wise?

Israel should stop giving fuel/food to Gaza (WTR)

Guest: Bush is a friend and a very wise and courageous leader

More Headlines
11:16 IDF bombs Gaza buildings used for rocket launching


13:22 Ballistic expert says Defense Min. ignoring Qassams solution


09:23 Israel embassies on high alert following Mughniyah killing


12:20 IDF experts suggest 'surprise' roadblocks in place of checkpoints


11:23 State offers to halve settlers' personal debts to NIS 350M


12:42 Hariri memorial, Mughniyah funeral set to divide Beirut residents


08:58 Bush orders new Syria sanctions over Lebanon, Iraq instabilities


13:03 ADL urges Polish Catholics to decry anti-Semitic Krakow meet


11:46 Israelis can soon travel the world with shekels in their pockets


09:52 ANALYSIS: Mughniyah killing appened under noses of Iran and Syria


10:07 Sanitation levels in Eilat hotels said to be substandard


00:20 Olmert to Shas: No talks underway on division of Jerusalem


10:26 China 'regrets' Spielberg's boycott of Olympics over Darfur