Parishioners protest church closure

Parishioners from a village near Warsaw launched a protest in the capital on Thursday following the closure of their local church over a row about pro-IVF priest who enourages Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Parishioners from Jasienica protest in Warsaw against the closure of their church. One of the placards reads "Return our church to us and Father Lemanski."Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Jakubowski

Protesters held placards outside the headquarters of the Curia for the Warsaw-Praga diocese calling for the return of Father Wojciech Lemanski, who has been banned from saying mass at the Jasienica church.

Parishioners hope to pass on a letter to head of the diocese Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who authorised the closure of the church on Tuesday.

The letter claims that “during the six years he served as rector in Jasienica, Father Wojciech Lemanski built a community that should be a model for all Poland.

“The church was always full, united around God and the truth. Father Lemanski was not afraid to broach problems that are important for all people, he talked about matters which the Catholic Church appeared not to see,” the letter says.

Father Wojciech Lemanski had been dismissed as rector of the Jasienica parish in July 2013 after calling on the Church hierarchy to soften its rhetoric against IVF treatment.

Archbisop Hoser had claimed Lemanski showed “a lack of respect and obedience to the bishops, as well as to the teaching of diocesan bishops in Poland on bioethics issues.”

Technically, Lemanski was still entitled to say mass once a week at 8 am on Sundays in Jasienica, but last week, Archbishop Hoser also withdrew this right, resulting in a noisy scene on Palm Sunday, followed by the closure of the church.

Lemanski, a longstanding promoter of dialogue between Poles and Jews, has claimed that his engagement in Jewish issues was at the root of the problem, but the Curia denied this. (nh)

Source: PAP

Parishioners protest church closure

Parishioners from a village near Warsaw launched a protest in the capital on Thursday following the closure of their local church over a row about pro-IVF priest who enourages Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Parishioners from Jasienica protest in Warsaw against the closure of their church. One of the placards reads "Return our church to us and Father Lemanski."Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Jakubowski

Protesters held placards outside the headquarters of the Curia for the Warsaw-Praga diocese calling for the return of Father Wojciech Lemanski, who has been banned from saying mass at the Jasienica church.

Parishioners hope to pass on a letter to head of the diocese Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who authorised the closure of the church on Tuesday.

The letter claims that “during the six years he served as rector in Jasienica, Father Wojciech Lemanski built a community that should be a model for all Poland.

“The church was always full, united around God and the truth. Father Lemanski was not afraid to broach problems that are important for all people, he talked about matters which the Catholic Church appeared not to see,” the letter says.

Father Wojciech Lemanski had been dismissed as rector of the Jasienica parish in July 2013 after calling on the Church hierarchy to soften its rhetoric against IVF treatment.

Archbisop Hoser had claimed Lemanski showed “a lack of respect and obedience to the bishops, as well as to the teaching of diocesan bishops in Poland on bioethics issues.”

Technically, Lemanski was still entitled to say mass once a week at 8 am on Sundays in Jasienica, but last week, Archbishop Hoser also withdrew this right, resulting in a noisy scene on Palm Sunday, followed by the closure of the church.

Lemanski, a longstanding promoter of dialogue between Poles and Jews, has claimed that his engagement in Jewish issues was at the root of the problem, but the Curia denied this. (nh)

Source: PAP

Murder suspect wanted in US arrested in Krakow

A Polish man suspected of murdering a Czech citizen in Chicago has been arrested in Krakow, southern Poland.

Mateusz Z. (full name withheld under Polish privacy laws) was detained at an apartment in his home city, following cooperation between police from the Malopolska region and the FBI.

“He was surprised to be confronted with police holding a warrant for his arrest, and he did not try to resist detainment,” said police spokesman Mariusz Ciarka.

A Krakow court has ruled that the suspect will provisionally remain under arrest for two months until a US extradition application has been filed.

The 26-year-old is alleged to have carried out the Chicago murder in June 2013. The victim was a 24-year-old Czech woman who was known to the suspect.

It is understood that Mateusz Z. had been staying with his mother in the US, where she is a permanent resident.

Mateusz Z.'s version of the incident differs from the one provided by the FBI, but it is understood that the suspect admitted guilt while being questioned a prosecutor's office in Krakow.

Source: PAP

Murder suspect wanted in US arrested in Krakow

A Polish man suspected of murdering a Czech citizen in Chicago has been arrested in Krakow, southern Poland.

Mateusz Z. (full name withheld under Polish privacy laws) was detained at an apartment in his home city, following cooperation between police from the Malopolska region and the FBI.

“He was surprised to be confronted with police holding a warrant for his arrest, and he did not try to resist detainment,” said police spokesman Mariusz Ciarka.

A Krakow court has ruled that the suspect will provisionally remain under arrest for two months until a US extradition application has been filed.

The 26-year-old is alleged to have carried out the Chicago murder in June 2013. The victim was a 24-year-old Czech woman who was known to the suspect.

It is understood that Mateusz Z. had been staying with his mother in the US, where she is a permanent resident.

Mateusz Z.'s version of the incident differs from the one provided by the FBI, but it is understood that the suspect admitted guilt while being questioned a prosecutor's office in Krakow.

Source: PAP

Krakow cathedral unveils Pope John Paul II sainthood bell

A half-tonne bronze bell that was commissioned to mark the 27 April canonisation of Pope John Paul II has arrived at Krakow's Wawel Cathedral.

Former rector of Wawel Cathedral Janusz Bielanski admires the newly cast bell. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk

The bell will be hung in the Silver Bells Tower, the cathedral's oldest surviving bell tower.

Wawel bell-ringer and engineer Andrzej Bochniak said that the seeds for the project were sown when he noticed several years ago that there was an empty chamber in the tower.

“The chamber was prepared almost 500 years ago, and it has been waiting for a special occasion,” he said.

“Our ancestors decided not to hang a bell there, and a unique opportunity has now appeared.”

The bell has been inscribed in Latin with one of the Polish pontiff's most oft-cited messages: “Nolita timere” (Do not be afraid).

Born Karol Wojtyla, the future pope lived much of his life in Krakow, serving as the city's archbishop from 1964 until his election to the papacy in 1978.

Wawel Cathedal is part of the city's former royal citadel and it has status of a national shrine, with many of the country's monarchs and national heroes entombed in the cathedral's crypts.

Pope's car

Meanwhile, a collector of vintage vehicles who is driving from Berlin to the Vatican in a car that once belonged to the pontiff reached Warsaw on Wednesday.

Marek Schramm, who is half-Polish and half-German, plans to stop at various sites connected with Pope John Paul II as he drives across Poland, including the pontiff's birthplace at Wadowice in southern Poland.

Schramm found the 1958 Warszawa M20 car on the internet, and was later amazed to discover the signature of Karol Wojtyla among the insurance documents.

He duly had the car carefully restored.

The canonisation of Pope John Paul II will take place at the Vatican on 27 April. (nh)

Krakow cathedral unveils Pope John Paul II sainthood bell

A half-tonne bronze bell that was commissioned to mark the 27 April canonisation of Pope John Paul II has arrived at Krakow's Wawel Cathedral.

Former rector of Wawel Cathedral Janusz Bielanski admires the newly cast bell. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk

The bell will be hung in the Silver Bells Tower, the cathedral's oldest surviving bell tower.

Wawel bell-ringer and engineer Andrzej Bochniak said that the seeds for the project were sown when he noticed several years ago that there was an empty chamber in the tower.

“The chamber was prepared almost 500 years ago, and it has been waiting for a special occasion,” he said.

“Our ancestors decided not to hang a bell there, and a unique opportunity has now appeared.”

The bell has been inscribed in Latin with one of the Polish pontiff's most oft-cited messages: “Nolita timere” (Do not be afraid).

Born Karol Wojtyla, the future pope lived much of his life in Krakow, serving as the city's archbishop from 1964 until his election to the papacy in 1978.

Wawel Cathedal is part of the city's former royal citadel and it has status of a national shrine, with many of the country's monarchs and national heroes entombed in the cathedral's crypts.

Pope's car

Meanwhile, a collector of vintage vehicles who is driving from Berlin to the Vatican in a car that once belonged to the pontiff reached Warsaw on Wednesday.

Marek Schramm, who is half-Polish and half-German, plans to stop at various sites connected with Pope John Paul II as he drives across Poland, including the pontiff's birthplace at Wadowice in southern Poland.

Schramm found the 1958 Warszawa M20 car on the internet, and was later amazed to discover the signature of Karol Wojtyla among the insurance documents.

He duly had the car carefully restored.

The canonisation of Pope John Paul II will take place at the Vatican on 27 April. (nh)

Polish GDP catching up with EU average

A new report by the finance ministry estimates that by 2017, GDP per capita in Poland will reach 74 percent of the average in the European Union.

Warsaw – Royal Castle Square: photo - wiki/CC

The report, Multiannual State Financial Plan (Wieloletni Plan Finansowy Państwa), seen by the PAP news agency, notes that in 2008, GDP per capita in Poland was 56 percent and in 2012, 67 percent of the EU average.

"This will be possible thanks to dynamic GDP growth (which in 2017 is estimated to be around 4.3 percent)," the report claims.

Minister of Finance Mateusz Szczurek said this week that the report, to be adopted by the government next week and which forms the basis of calculating future budgets, estimates that GDP growth for 2014 will be at 3.3 percent and 3.8 percent in 2015.

The growth rate will create jobs and cut the jobless rate, the reports says, and by the end of the year, unemployment is expected to fall to 9.8 percent (from 13.6 percent in March) and 7.9 percent by 2017.

The Polish currency, the zloty, is expected to strengthen between 2014 - 17. "Strengthening of the currency should favour the strong fundamentals of the Polish economy," the report says.

Poland's economic growth is threatened by several external factors, including the conflict in Ukraine, lower absorption of EU funds and EU targets aimed at cutting CO2 levels, the report notes. (pg)

- See more at: http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/168517,Polish-GDP-catching-up-with-EU-average#sthash.U72ZTl6N.dpuf

Polish GDP catching up with EU average

A new report by the finance ministry estimates that by 2017, GDP per capita in Poland will reach 74 percent of the average in the European Union.

Warsaw – Royal Castle Square: photo - wiki/CC

The report, Multiannual State Financial Plan (Wieloletni Plan Finansowy Państwa), seen by the PAP news agency, notes that in 2008, GDP per capita in Poland was 56 percent and in 2012, 67 percent of the EU average.

"This will be possible thanks to dynamic GDP growth (which in 2017 is estimated to be around 4.3 percent)," the report claims.

Minister of Finance Mateusz Szczurek said this week that the report, to be adopted by the government next week and which forms the basis of calculating future budgets, estimates that GDP growth for 2014 will be at 3.3 percent and 3.8 percent in 2015.

The growth rate will create jobs and cut the jobless rate, the reports says, and by the end of the year, unemployment is expected to fall to 9.8 percent (from 13.6 percent in March) and 7.9 percent by 2017.

The Polish currency, the zloty, is expected to strengthen between 2014 - 17. "Strengthening of the currency should favour the strong fundamentals of the Polish economy," the report says.

Poland's economic growth is threatened by several external factors, including the conflict in Ukraine, lower absorption of EU funds and EU targets aimed at cutting CO2 levels, the report notes. (pg)

- See more at: http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/168517,Polish-GDP-catching-up-with-EU-average#sthash.U72ZTl6N.dpuf

Lewandowski scores 100th goal for Borussia Dortmund

Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th goal for German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, helping win the team a place in the DFB Cup final with a 2-0 victory over VFL Wolfsberg.

Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his 100th goal for the side, during the DFB Cup semi-final match between Borussia Dortmund and VFL Wolfsburg at the Signal-Iduna-Park in Dortmund, Germany, 15 April 2014. Photo: EPA/Rolf Vennenbernd

It took 182 games for the Polish star to pull off the feat, and the striker had donned a shirt emblazoned with the magic number underneath his normal strip, just in case.

“It was my idea,” he said of the secret shirt. I had a feeling that I'd score a goal on Tuesday. I only hope that it's not the last one,” he said after the match.

The Pole has become the sixth ever Dortmund player to reach 100 goals for the team.

Time was running out for the 25-year-old, as Lewandowski is due to transfer to Bayern Munich this summer, and he has just four more Bundesliga games with Borussia Dortmund.

His goal on Tuesday came in the 43rd minute, when team-mate Marco Reus found the Pole unmarked and Lewandowski slammed his ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.

“I'm happy about every goal, although this was a special one,” he said.

Polish fans are keeping fingers crossed that Lewandowski will be able to weave some magic for Poland this September, when the qualifying matches begin for Euro 2012. (nh)

Lewandowski scores 100th goal for Borussia Dortmund

Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th goal for German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, helping win the team a place in the DFB Cup final with a 2-0 victory over VFL Wolfsberg.

Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his 100th goal for the side, during the DFB Cup semi-final match between Borussia Dortmund and VFL Wolfsburg at the Signal-Iduna-Park in Dortmund, Germany, 15 April 2014. Photo: EPA/Rolf Vennenbernd

It took 182 games for the Polish star to pull off the feat, and the striker had donned a shirt emblazoned with the magic number underneath his normal strip, just in case.

“It was my idea,” he said of the secret shirt. I had a feeling that I'd score a goal on Tuesday. I only hope that it's not the last one,” he said after the match.

The Pole has become the sixth ever Dortmund player to reach 100 goals for the team.

Time was running out for the 25-year-old, as Lewandowski is due to transfer to Bayern Munich this summer, and he has just four more Bundesliga games with Borussia Dortmund.

His goal on Tuesday came in the 43rd minute, when team-mate Marco Reus found the Pole unmarked and Lewandowski slammed his ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.

“I'm happy about every goal, although this was a special one,” he said.

Polish fans are keeping fingers crossed that Lewandowski will be able to weave some magic for Poland this September, when the qualifying matches begin for Euro 2012. (nh)