May (Web-only) 2000

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The head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago has ordered a prominent Polish priest not to make anti-Semitic statements during a planned visit to the US city this month. But the warning was dismissed as "stupidity" by a spokesman for the priest, Henryk Jankowski, from Gdansk, who accused the archbishop of "repeating media manipulation." The priest is widely known in Poland for preaching anti-Semitic sermons. Cardinal Francis George, the Archbishop of Chicago, said in a statement that in order "to promote the continued progress of Catholic-Jewish relations, as advanced by the recent visit to Israel of Pope John Paul II, Father Jankowski is specifically forbidden to make any remarks that may be construed in any sense as anti-Semitic or in any way disparaging of the Jewish people. Violation of the above will result in his being prohibited from ever celebrating Mass or preaching in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition, a report of the incident will be made to his archbishop for further disciplinary action."The cardinal was commenting on plans for the visit by Jankowski, who has been invited to the US by Chicago's Polish National Alliance. The city has a big ethnic-Polish community.A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Chicago, Jim Dwyer, told ENI that the statement had been issued after queries about the cardinal's stance, as well as to counter "all kinds of misinformation" about Jankowski's visit."We felt we should clarify where we stand on Father Jankowski's visit," the spokesman added."A Catholic-Jewish dialogue is underway here in Chicago—we're trying to bring people together, rather than cause rifts."However, the warning was rejected as "garbage" by Wojciech Knitter, the priest's spokesman. He said accusations of ...