How popular is Radio Maryja in Poland?

O, widzę, że pan się ładnie przedstawił przed nami tutaj... w tej chwili słuchaczom... przed milionami słuchaczy ;)

I'm not actually, I am not interested in it other than from a psychological point of view, by that I mean I find it interesting to see people having faith in religion, and sometimes (my apologies if this offends anyone, not my intention) I find it a bit scary that they seem to be kind of under the control or whatever (can't think of the right word) of religion. I don't rule out the existence of a Creator etc, I'm more a pantheist than atheist. I do note that some people who quite literally put all their troubles and dilemmas "Into the hands of God" seem to not worry as much and seem to do a heck of a lot better than people like myself who don't really have any beliefs really. It's tempting for me to think I am more sophisticated by being not religious, perhaps that's a delusion I have, but I do tend to look at religious services and sermons and stuff like that and feel it is to put it politely a waste of time for someone like me. If the friends I mention in posts above hear me say that they get very annoyed, as you can guess, so I keep my thoughts to myself these days and respect their religious activities.

I like listening to RM and watching that TV channel TWAM or whatever it's called because it has no ads, has that world in pictures bulletin, and interesting discussions on non religious stuff fairly often. Now, if they are trying to push religion into those discussions then yeah I am too thick to notice, and it certainly hasn't subconsciously encouraged me. I am even less interested in becoming religious since coming to Poland than I was before. Although I have to say I do love some of the churches, they are impressive, and it is nice to see people going to church as a family and having optimism from their faith. Can't knock that and wouldn't want to, I say it's not for me but most definitely good luck to 'em!

EDITED to say I will definitely try to catch those programmes you mention, Jonni, many thanks.

Me too, in a way.
You've hit the nail on the head about why people here have strong views on it. If there's a campaign against it in PL, it's more of a campaign against the two specific political parties they are linked with (one of them the twins' party, now in opposition and the other a far-right party who was their coalition partner) than their broadcast content, which is mostly banal.

Also there is something compelling about slick way they operate financially, and considerable embarrassment among educated urban Poles that it exists and gets international publicity about its excesses.

Delphiandomine is right - since their political protectors (an important thing in PL) were kicked out of office they have to be very careful.

And it is certainly an interesting phenomena - capaigning to close bars down, its supporters picketing funerals, outlandish statements, including about having the First Lady put to sleep, and broadcasting on the frequencies that car radios use for automatic traffic announcements, so your car radio changes to RM every 20 minutes!

Jonni, I looked into RM a lot before I came to Poland using the web. I developed a great deal of irritation about them and expected to get angry here when I tuned in and got proper translations for the first time live. However, so far, a big fat nought. I even enjoyed a few shows on TWRAM when I think they discussed some local community issues and had cameras on location about roads or buildings in some area, another time I think they discussed water standards, can't remember now, anyway I remember thinking this is a bit of a novelty - roving investigative reporters in dog collars. They didn't go all Jeremy Paxman about stuff but nonetheless I have to say it was way above what I expected from a religious TV channel. Of course the rest of it with their religious services and prayers does turn me off, and their daft RMTV fanfare jingle sounds like it was off an old royalty-free cassette from the 70s, but then again they know their audience and that's what they like I suppose. By the time I'm 75, they'll probably be interspersing news bulletins with a jingle burst of Eminem & Rihanna...

That's the point really - it's very bland and boring, aimed at the elderly, and the few bits of nasty stuff are well reported. People's dislike of it is as I stated above - it's connections to political parties, the behaviour of some of the characters involved with it and the televangelist who runs it buying a Maybach from the donations he solicits from pensioners. Check out the TRWAM website and the newspapers they publish for content!

Sounds like Russia or China.

Not for editorial content, for financial irregularities and compliance issues about their broadcasting licence including donations to political parties, jamming rivals' frequencies, signal strength and abusing the frequencies meant for traffic and weather updates. Enough to be taken off the air in most of the free world.

Absolutely correct.

The death penalty is first mentioned in Genesis 9:6, long before the law of Moses was given, and it stays on God's law books throughout the Bible (Exodus 21:12; Numbers 35:16-31; Romans 13:1-4; Acts 25:11). As you can see from Acts 25:11 and Romans 13:1-4, the death penalty is still God's will for today. God has given man the responsibility of enforcing the death penalty, and justice has not been served until it has been enforced.

Res ipsa loquitur.

As well as stoning your wife if she's not a virgin on your wedding night, and murdering your child if it won't listen to you. The bible even contains instructions on how to carry out the murder in detail, be it by stoning or hanging....granted that's all a bit difficult to reconcile with other parts, but hey, whatever works for the time being.

Not at all.

Christians are not under the Mosaic law, but under grace (see Romans 6:14). So such practices as "stoning your wife if she's not a virgin on your wedding night, and murdering your child if it won't listen to you" are no longer in effect.

However, as indicated above, the death penalty, which was in effect before the Mosaic Law and under the Mosaic Law, is still in effect (see Romans 13:1-4; Acts 25:11).

Fortunately it is not "still in effect" anywhere in Europe, nor does the Church support its reintroduction.

I would also remind you that Paul's letter to the Romans and the Acts of the Apostles are neither legal codes nor sentencing guidlines.

would you be so kind to name this person?


well I have heard(actually read) this Maybach story is a blatant lie - let's assume it is a lie - what does that make of you - believer of propaganda?

This site has a search function.



catholicsforchoice.org/conscience/archives/cEuropeanSupplement_Specialreportonpoland.asp

sorry, but what I am supposed to search for???

what was in the link you have edited out - could you repost it?

Posted now - with the correct url. He apparently has several nice cars. This is one of them:

Isn't there some audio of Rydzyk on Youtube or somewhere laughing off suggestions he has a Maybach and joking that he should use his submarine or 'copter? I don't think I can post links or I would look for it and post.

Whenever I put the case to people here that support RM etc about the newspaper ND and the rest of it having a less than perfect reputation among the internet forums, I am told it is all propaganda to smear the good works of Rydzyk and that Rydzyk is hated because he and his press "tell everyone the truth" about various issues.

I have no idea what the truth really is, I am little more than a tourist here really and don't want to speak out of my backside, but that's what they say when I highlight the criticisms of his media empire and school. They say it's all lies about him, a campaign of smears, etc etc. They laughed hysterically when I said he had a Maybach, and added "Do you really think that is true? You are really gullible if you do." So is it me that's gullible or them? I am yet to find out, so far nothing heard or seen that worries me from their output which may of course now be all sweetness & light if they are under threat of having their licence pulled - no idea if that rumour is true or not btw.

The S American money man story - it has been called a smear by Rydzyk I think. No, don't ask me if it is or isn't, I haven't he foggiest! If it is true, shame on RM big, big time.

Jonni, don't all these religious types get nice cars? I can think of a charity in the UK that gave exec cars to its staff in the 80s - where's the justice in that? People weren't donating for ROver Sterlings to be bought, they were donating for the needy. Anyway, probably the UK's senior clergy get something a bit fancier than a 1998 Nissan Micra Equation too :o)

I remember hearing that - he deflected the question rather skillfully. He's certainly been open about liking luxury cars.


It's complicated - there are several cases going through the courts now. The guy in question can't come to Poland, since the US wants to extradite him, but he's very quick to sue on technicalities.


Scandalous really. And not rare.


The Anglican Archbishops get (or used to have) Ford Grosvenors - the kind of car that funeral services use for mourners (I was once nearly run over by the Archbishop of Canterbury!!). I'm not sure about the UKs Catholic prelates.

well the guy in the car is indeed similar to Rydzyk - it would be interesting to verify the plates

Similar and possibly the same, but very very hard to say 100%. I notice there's somebody in the back too. There are a couple of other Maybachs in Poland, which muddies the issue - one belongs to a politician and one to a guy in Podhale - I wouldn't recognise either though.

Joanna Senszyn, the member of parliament who I quoted, isn't universally liked in Poland, but her honesty isn't in question.

well - maybe I am wrong but the plates reads as C0-9KK - this is a number of choice (paid for - the owner of the car chooses what symbols follow the territory indicating header)(so called tablice indywidualne) for województwo kujawsko-pomorskie where Toruń lies -

- KK letters can stand for Kościół Katolicki

it could also be C0 - RKK - like say Rzymski Kościół Katolicki

Wow! You've got better eyesight than me. I remember when the car scandal first started, the Toruń licensing office is supposed to have issued a statement that there was no Maybach registered there, but Toruń is very much Fr. Rydzyk's city and given that the government of the time was prepared to send him government limousines on for personal use on request, their reliability is somewhat compromised.

Aside from the car issue, which is an interesting distraction, this quote from Archbishop Życiński of Lublin, one of the most respected people in Poland, is rather telling:


vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/cultr/documents/rc_pc_cultr_20000302_doc_i-2000-plenaria-2_en.html#8

Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, also highly respected in Poland went further:


przekroj.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1576&Itemid=48

well jonni - many people including myself believe that Życiński probably was a secret informer of communist security services (like many proven secret informers in Polish clergy - one was even denied the Archbishopry of Warsaw (Stanisław Wielgus - he confirmed his involvement eventually ) - he is known for defending secret informers among clergy and similar exploits - he is a friend of Adam Michnik I guess - which for many Poles is quite telling

the above mentioned archbishop Wielgus was btw vehemently defended by Radio Maryja and Ojciec Rydzyk himself - there were even manifestations of support of Wielgus organized by Radio Maryja

Some say Wałęsa too, but it's hard to describe either as communists, and probably hard for the Archbishop to have avoided contact with the authorities in those troubled times.


I remember the Wielguś affair - some commentators said it was the tip of the iceberg, others said that being bothered by spooks was an unavoidable part of life for people in certain jobs in those days.

Flippin' eck, there ain't many people who can say that! That's one for the dinner party eh (oh how middle class I am!)

Thanks for the info, Jonni, I shall say no more as not here long enough to know all the facts.

Wroclaw, when I tried to post links last time I got an error message saying I was not allowed to. I will try again now with that youtube link which I think is the one. Thanks.

youtube.com/watch?v=NC5RHXYxM1g

jonni - not everyone who had been bothered became a secret informer/collaborator - though I understand there was an array of motives behind such cooperation - many were blackmailed - some were ambitious

Radio Maria is popular, especially among the older folks.

Over and out.

Says here that Tadeusz Pieronek said some rather hurtful things about Jews:
aidanmaconachyblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/bishop-tadeusz-pieronek-jews-use.html

According to him, the quote was taken out of context - he's certainly got a good reputation and is poles apart from the Radio Maryja bunch.


Yes. And the sad thing is that a lot of people working in education were contacted if one of their former students had applied for a job requiring security clearance - all they were doing was giving a reference, but of course it went on file, and they are open to accusations of being an informer.

have never heard about that

instead heard of those who made career using their contacts with SB etc

Plenty of those too.