Church land grab hits charity

The Church in Poland last week found its work further hampered by the Government's seizure of its lands which have in the past been used to carry on much of its work of charity. The proceeds helped educate poor seminarians, provide homes and care for orphans, give food, shelter and clothing to the aged, and assist needy families in times of sickness and disaster.
The income from many of the lands belonging to religious orders was used to finance schools or to support those Religious who consecrated themselves to a life of contemplation and prayer for Poland and its people.
SERVING THE POOR
The government's seizure of Church lands came only a few weeks after it had grabbed control of Caritas. the Church's vast charitable agency. There was belief that the swiftness with which this second measure followed the first was aimed at forestalling the Bishops from setting up a new charitable agency through funds from its lands.
After the regime's seizure of Caritas, the Bishops had said in a joint letter to their priests " With all the more eagerness we will approach the consideration of methods by which we will be able to continue serving the poor, whom we always have with us."