NID: POLAND: CATHOLIC CHURCH LEGALIZED

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826742 NR Record POLAND: Catholic Church Legalized Poland s legislature esterda Church w recognizing the Catholic giving the Pope Inc right to name all bishops, the church the ri ht to own ro ert in its own name, and a free Catholic press. Warsaw a A formal exchan e of ambassadors between the Vatican is expected later this year. Comment: Giving the church legal status is an indicator of the regime's desperation for popular support, most immediately to improve its prospects in next month's legislative election. The regime also hopes to entice the church, long supportive of Solidarity. into a more neutral role. Warsaw, which recognized the political opposition in the roundtable accord, has, in legalizing the church, further abandoned its longstanding ideological claim to rule alone. It has also confirmed the church's status as Poland's leading moral political force. "IrtrirSeera__ rcs 2315/89 18 May 1989 3 �7 2 � 6.2(d) 3.3(b)(1) 3.3(b)(1) 3.3(b)(1) 6.2(d) 6.2(d Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826742