The role of the Roman Catholic Clergy of the Diocese of Kielce in the National Party election campaign of 1930

Abstract

Roman Catholic Clergy from the Diocese of Kielce campaigned for the National Party during the 1930 parliamentary elections in a variety of ways. The Reverend Adam Blaszczyk from Kielce was one of the candidates to become a Member of Parliament. His political activities, namely, agitation for the National Party among inhabitants of the diocese, were endorsed by the Reverend Antoni Sobczynski. The vast majority of the Catholic Clergy organized political meetings aimed at recruiting potential voters. They also made use of buildings belonging to the Church such as presbyteries or they made churchyards available for the National Party’s politicians. The greatest endorsement from Roman Catholic Clergy came on the Election Day – November 16th 1930, when the majority of priests agitated from the pulpit for voting for the National Party. Instead of giving sermons, priests were campaigning for the National Party hailing it as the only defender of the Catholic Church in Poland.