And now what?:

...And in the style of Jean Jacques Rousseau, he reminded the powers-that-be that the people have an inalienable right to freedom...

...Following the unsuccessful 1863 uprising against Russia, enlightened Polish circles appealed to the nation to abandon temporarily dreams of political liberation through force and to commence praca organiczna, organic work...

...It is not unusual for John Paul to travel to distant countries Nor is it unusual for him to address enormous numbers of people What was unusual about the June 16-23 journey was (1) that his listeners - who in several cities numbered in the millions - not only heard, but understood the pope, and not merely his text, but everything that was implied between the lines and everything that was omitted...

...But defiance of these agreements is the raison d'etre of the present military government Can the pope reasonably expect that the government will commit some act of political self-annihilation - assuming that the Soviet Union, "the others," would permit such an act...

...the more the Polish authorities and the Vatican denied its political character, the more apparent its social and political dimensions became...

...The hierarchy, headed by Cardinal Glemp, understood better than the man-in-the-street that martial law had been introduced at the inspiration of Moscow and with the close cooperation of the Kremlin, which was firmly committed to the suppression of any visible or violent resistance against the new Polish regime (This understanding about the danger of the involvement of "others" had also been the basis of cooperation between the Gomulka and the Gierek regimes and the Catholic church ) What the subjective intentions were of the Party and government leaders who granted to the Polish church concessions greater than those in any other socialist country is debatable...

...WHAT, IN THE practical order, can the upshot be of such encouragement, conveyed to millions who are in contention with the political establishment...

...and (3) that the pope came to Poland at an unusual moment in that country's history, a period of "post-martial law...

...But clearly both parties were interested in social discipline, civic responsibility, and the economic development of the nation...

...He could have postponed his trip, but apparently no one wanted that...

...How can this be accomplished...

...He left open the question of what the people should do in order to compel the government to fulfill its obligations and the written social contract of September 1980 - the agreements between the Polish government and the striking workers which gave birth to autonomous trade unions This was in fact the only concrete advice he gave: Return to Solidarity Return to the agreements which have been violated by the military government...

...On one level, the second pilgrimage was "allowed...

...The government perceived the pope's remarks as a great boost for its economic plans and the people accepted these admonitions, knowing that they were the price of the relative religious freedom which they - in distinction from the citizens of other socialist countries - enjoyed...

...Looking back on the pope's June 1983 trip, two things emerge First, the Soviet Union has, since 1956, resigned from its ideological offensive, its attempt to persuade the West, resorting instead to a display of military power...

...There is thus a common denominator between John Paul's first and second pilgrimages: the strengthening of popular Catholicism and the mandate to develop a new working relationship between politics and religion...

...Indeed, sursum corda was the main refrain of John Paul's 1983 pilgrimage...

...The government was anxious for some kind of legitimization (The hierarchy needed legitimization and encouragement as well ) Thus, the pope found himself called upon to give his blessing to two contradictory interests...

...What should people do when the government is obviously violating natural law...

...But with the crowds having dispersed and the pope back in Rome, everyone in and out of Poland is asking "What now...

...There is a need to commence a new phase of organic work in order to preserve the substance of the Polish nation: to save and reinforce its national culture, to further its economic development, and to assure freedom of conscience and religious practice Cooperation, yes Collaboration, no...

...The pope's trip could have been helpful in this respect but it does not seem that these considerations ranked high on the agenda of the bishops who took part in preparing for the pope's trip...

...Many observers feared that the centuries-old identification of Catholicism and Polishness could break apart...

...Application of the Angelic Doctor's teaching to present circumstances would indicate that since there is no prospect of success - inasmuch as the military government is supported by the entire might of the Soviet armed forces - one should refrain for the time being from open defiance, looking for ways of assuring national survival until the time is more apposite for action...

...The pope's visit was an unusual event...

...Thomas Aquinas...

...As John Paul prepared for this trip, he had to reflect on the changes which had taken place in his homeland since his first visit in 1979...

...There are no clear and carefully worked out formulas...

...According to the Brezhnev Doctrine, that means that the five thousand tanks in East Germany and the twenty-eight divisions just east of the Polish frontier have a clear and present role in the life of today's Poland...

...Here he referred to his own encyclical, Laborem exercens, which is better known and more appreciated in Poland than in other western countries...

...First, the people have to consider whether rebellion - an evil in itself - will be a greater good than the toleration of the existing evil Second, if the answer is positive, they must consider whether there is any real chance of success, and if so, whether this is the appropriate moment to defy the government...

...RESISTANCE, NOT REBELLION IN MAY, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, Poland's Primate, told journalists in Rome that both the church and the government were ready to receive the pope "if others allow it...

...There was only one small problem with the praxis from a socialist viewpoint: the workers achieved this victory not against a bourgeois, but against a socialist government...

...they are well informed...

...They asked their countrymen to fight illiteracy, to educate new cadres of engineers, technicians, and intellectuals of every kind...

...and both wanted to avoid a debacle of the Hungarian and Czech type which would not, in Poland, have been as peaceful as in those neighboring lands and could have evolved into a catastrophe for the nation AFTER THE INSTITUTION of General Jaruzelski's military dictatorship, the church had to decide whether it was time to change its attitude towards the state authorities or to continue some cooperation of the sort that had existed until then A Hobson's choice The church had to choose between continuing a policy of appeasement, thereby losing the confidence of Poland's patriots, or adding its powerful voice of criticism to the opposition and, eventually, assuming a large share of the moral responsibility for unrest, which could have led to an open uprising against the regime, which could have led to...

...The politicization of parishes and of church services became a volatile fact of life in Poland, a fact duly noted by both government and hierarchy...

...The pope made clear in so many words that the government is violating divine laws and human rights...

...The balancing-and-postponement techniques practiced by the primate evoked strong and widespread criticism within Poland...

...And once again the Poles have the western world's sympathy-and that is about all...

...He seems to have decided that his only option was a radical one: to take the offensive and speak bluntly...

...No western nation is about to cancel a single profitable contract for the sake of"their freedom and ours...

...On the other hand, if he limited himself to a summons to prayer, this would have implied an abdication of the earthly kingdom and a retreat to the spiritual sphere...

...This workers' movement - which, with remarkable speed, became a national movement - enjoyed the cooperation and support of the Catholic intellectuals and many segments of the Catholic establishment When the leaders of Solidarity, with Lech Walesa at their head, swore their allegiance to the church (in the words of a traditional Polish vow) "by word and sword," the church unconditionally embraced the movement and, somewhat belatedly, joined the national trend When Solidarity was suppressed, and the impact of martial law was felt in every facet of Polish life, the position of the church became uncomfortable...

...Not in the wake of Andrei Gromyko's carefully-timed reminder that Poland is an integral part of the socialist commonwealth...

...Even John XXIII and the Fathers of Vatican II did not foresee an historical development of the type John Paul is pointing to...

...In 1983 Poland is once again in political shambles, once again in thrall to Russian imperialist interests...

...Defying the government, the pope reminded them that the Poles have a right to know the truth, that they have the right to a decent life, that they should have the right to form their own independent trade unions...

...The memory and spirit of the anti-Russian uprisings in Poland in 1830 and 1863 were abroad in the land even as the Vatican condemned rebellion against legitimate political authority...

...For his part, First Secretary Gierek emphasized that relations between the church and the state had entered a phase of cooperation, which he defined as everything which serves the development of Poland and helps to strengthen its security and its position in the international arena, furthers progress in social life, and undergirds the family...

...And, finally, the result of empirical experience, they have a keen sense of responsibility...

...Officially introduced on December 13, 1981, martial law has in fact remained in force until today, although under another name Martial law was introduced in order to suppress the most massive people's movement in the history of Europe - Solidarity, the fledging free-labor movement What a paradox that in 1980 in Catholic Poland the dream of Marxists worldwide was realized: industrial workers became the leading force in the transformation of a society...

...It also suggests that the means and methods which the Polish church finds for its relationships with society and its socialist rulers should serve as paradigms for serious study and research...

...During that pilgrimage his pastoral messages recommended the preservation of law and order and praised hard work and frugality...

...But he didn't give a full and unqualified blessing to the hierarchy's stance up until now either...

...2) that the visit was so unabashedly political...

...The role of the church - and her shepherds - should be to serve as a kind of guide helping the nation to find the best way to overcome the current political, economic, and intellectual crisis Polish Catholicism is well equipped for this task Thousands of educated Catholics perform various important functions in all areas of life Catholic newspapers and periodicals are available to them...

...Manifestly, the same slogan - ora et labora - would in 1983 have smacked of collaboration John Paul had to avoid even the possibility of such an inference being made...

...The Poles face a problem dealt with centuries ago by the Fathers of the church and elaborated in greater detail by St...

...Meanwhile, the lower-ranking clergy - who were from the people - stood with the people...

...The courageous and vibrant faith of the Polish nation must mean that henceforth Polish Catholicism shall remain a perennial category in the life of the universal church...

...The bishops rested satisfied with the people's response to the pope, delighted with the surge of religiosity...

...The Soviet leadership view themselves as governing a world empire and are not concerned about questions of public image Second, the task of organic work, of developing cadres of devoted, thoughtful patriots who will cooperate without collaborating - this task remains of pivotal importance for the foreseeable future THOMAS E. BIRD (Thomas E. Bird is Director of the Council for the Study of Ethics and Public Policy at Queens College, CUNY )licy at Queens College, CUNY...

...Many of the liberties which the church had enjoyed were threatened...

...Admonishing them to be persistent in their work for freedom, he was obviously appealing to all those Poles who feel oppressed and dispirited to lift up their hearts...

...No pope could have afforded to give back such a message - certainly not a Polish pope in his native land...

...His listeners had to ask themselves whether that is sufficient reason for open resistance against oppression and, if so, what form this resistance might take...