Sprawy wyznaniowe województwa częstochowskiego na podstawie sprawozdań Wydziału do Spraw Wyznań Urzędu Wojewódzkiego w Częstochowie i Urzędu do Spraw Wyznań w Warszawie z lat 1982-1984

Religious issues in Częstochowa Voivodeship in the light of the reports of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Częstochowa Voivodeship Office and Office for Religious Affairs in Warsaw in the years 1982–1984

• Polish
• English

The chapter discusses the activity of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Częstochowa Voivodeship Office from the period of 1982 to 1984 on the basis of reports issued by this institution as well as the Office for Religious Affairs in Warsaw controlling the Department. The Department of Religious Affairs of the Częstochowa Voivodeship Office pursued the policy of state authorities towards churches and religious organizations, and was a part of the repressive apparatus. The Catholic Church, regarded as the most serious political opponent, was treated with particular hostility. The administrative actions aimed to reduce the activity of religious institutions and even to take control over them. Limiting influences of the Church in the society and restraining its social and political actions were priority matters. Purely administrative and control operations were accompanied by various forms of pressure on clergymen aiming to prevent them from manifesting their opposing attitudes. Częstochowa Voivodeship was particularly subject to restrictions due to Jasna Góra Monastery and massive pilgrimages.