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Polish anti-corruption officials raid foundation led by prominent Catholic priest

27.11.2025 08:00
Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) officials have raided the premises of Lux Veritatis, a foundation led by prominent Catholic priest Tadeusz Rydzyk.
Tadeusz Rydzyk, founder and director of Radio Maryja.
Tadeusz Rydzyk, founder and director of Radio Maryja.Photo: Archidiecezja Krakowska Biuro Prasowe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The CBA agents on Wednesday secured documents relevant to an ongoing probe into irregularities in the previous government's Justice Fund, state news agency PAP reported.

Now the documents will be analysed and verified, officials said.

Poland's minister for the security services, Tomasz Siemoniak, on Tuesday said that there were "no sacred cows" in the investigation.

Last December, the CBA raided Lux Veritatis' premises in Warsaw, Toruń and Wrocław.

Officials at the time secured documents relevant to an investigation into the overstepping of power by a former minister of culture.

The case involves the financing of the "Memory and Identity" museum in Toruń.

Lux Veritatis said it had made all the relevant documents available to the CBA of its own accord.

On December 8, Rydzyk is due to appear before prosecutors in the case.

Controversial priest-cum-businessman

Father Rydzyk heads Radio Maryja, an influential Catholic broadcaster. Based in Toruń, north-central Poland, it began broadcasting in 1991, and has grown into a global media outlet, combining religious programming with staunch advocacy for right-wing conservatism.  

Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, last year said the raids on Lux Veritatis' premises were part of a "relentless campaign" against Radio Maryja's founder and the Church at large.

In 2022, when Law and Justice was in power, Kaczyński said that Radio Maryja and other projects undertaken by Rydzyk, including radio and television stations, a daily newspaper, a college, various foundations, and a geothermal heating plant,deserved special “admiration.”

In a letter, Kaczyński praised "the venerable Father Director Tadeusz Rydzyk" for "his bold imagination and brave ideas, supported by charisma, iron will and a desire to devote himself completely to the service of God and homeland."

After Kaczyński's party lost power, Rydzyk was accused of corruption and receiving funds from the Law and Justice government in exchange for political support.

In October last year, lawmaker Roman Giertych alleged that Rydzyk, whose empire also includes broadcaster TV Trwam and the daily newspaper Nasz Dziennik, received "protection fees" from the former administration.

Giertych claimed that Rydzyk was financially rewarded for supporting the conservative PiS party during election campaigns.

This included around PLN 37 million (EUR 8.5 million) from various government ministries, he said.

Rydzyk has long been a prominent figure in Polish politics, often accused of using his media platform to support the PiS party and further his personal agenda.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP