Tadeusz Rydzyk, a Catholic priest whose media network has long been criticised by the Vatican for promoting religious extremism and nationalism, has been summoned by prosecutors in connection with funding for the “Memory and Identity” Museum dedicated to Pope John Paul II.
The investigation concerns what authorities describe as unfavourable contract provisions governing the use and settlement of nearly 219 million złoty (around €52 million) in public funds.
Members of the management board of Lux Veritatis, the foundation controlled by Rydzyk and responsible for the project, have already been questioned.
Prosecutors have scheduled Rydzyk’s hearing for 8 December, coinciding with the 34th anniversary of his highly polarising Radio Maryja outlet.
A spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów confirmed that a formal summons had been issued.
In an online statement, Rydzyk accused the authorities of seeking to shut down the museum as well as his radio and television stations, claiming they fall outside “political correctness.” He urged his followers to spread word of what he portrayed as an attack on the broader Catholic community and the Polish nation.
Responding to the investigation, Krzysztof Brejza, a Polish MEP from the centrist-liberal Civic Coalition who was repeatedly targeted by government surveillance under the right-wing populist PiS, criticised Rydzyk, saying that “mobilisation and prayer” would be more appropriate than using state institutions for financial gain, pointing to the priest’s long-standing close support from PiS politicians.
The case stems from a July 2024 notification filed by the regional tax authority, which flagged alleged failures by the former culture ministry leadership to protect state interests when approving the museum’s contracts.
Following that alert, the current Ministry of Culture moved to renegotiate the disputed provisions and has since filed a lawsuit seeking to void the earlier agreements with Lux Veritatis and recover more than 210 million złoty (about €49.6 million) plus interest.
Read more about this topic:
(mp)
Source: Polish Radio English Service/PAP/X/@krzysztofbrejza