Former Pope John Paul II must continue to be celebrated, according to the Polish government. Accused of having concealed cases of pedophilia within the Church of his native country by two recent journalistic investigations, the sovereign pontiff continues to be defended body and soul by the PIS, the party in power. He now wants to do it within the School.
With our correspondent in Warsaw, Martin Chabal
It is in the classrooms that the image of the pope must also be defended. If the PIS (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, Law and Justice), the party in power, had already brandished portraits of John Paul II in Parliament, he now wants to hang them in schools across the country.
The party does not ask the establishments directly. It could be accused of hampering freedom of expression and thought. But it is the regional education officials who take care of it. Some have asked school directors to display portraits of the pontiff next to the Polish flag.
Decisions from above
These administrators do not directly represent the government, but it is the Minister of Education who appoints these regional officials. And if the ministry does not oppose these decisions, it is as if it supports them. Teachers fear that their freedom to teach will be further restricted.
A new bill could give even more power to these regional directors. Many teachers fear having to comply with all the decisions coming from above… and therefore, from the government. On April 2, the day of commemoration of the death of John Paul II, many schools expect to have to support the former pope, even despite some reluctance.
►Also read: In Poland, the icon John Paul II chipped by two journalistic investigations