Polish Primate Hints at Compromise Solution to Auschwitz Convent

Cardinal Josef Glemp, the Catholic Primate of Poland, hinted Monday at a possible compromise solution to the plans to build a Carmelite convent at the site of the former Auschwitz death camp. The plans have come under fire from Jewish and some Catholic groups in Western Europe and the United States.

Glemp told a press conference here that while he did not know the exact details of the plans to build the convent, he indicated that other religions, presumably the Jews, are free to build appropriate structures on that site. “As far as I can see the situation, members of other religions can also participate in humanity’s expiation of our past sins,” Glemp said.

The Cardinal reminded the press conference that not only Jews had died in Auschwitz during World War II. “The destiny of the Polish people, the destiny of the Jews … the two destinies are parallel. It is not possible to create antagonism between them.” In this regard, Glemp denied that there was any anti-Semitism in Poland. He said “such accusations are a myth invented by Poland’s enemies abroad.”

The Cardinal, who is also the Archbishop of Warsaw and the highest ranking member of the Catholic Church in Poland, later met with a Jewish delegation which asked him to reconsider the building of the Carmelite convent French Chief Rabbi Rene Sirat and Alliance Israelite Universelle president Ady Steg told Glemp that Jews all over the world felt “deep anguish” about a convent being built on the site of the infamous death camp.

Glemp, who carefully avoided making a clear statement on this subject during his press conference, assured the Jewish leaders of his and the Catholic Church’s sympathy and friendship but refused to make any commitment on the issue of the convent. But he did say that he will inform “the appropriate Catholic authorities” of their protest and misgivings.