A Catholic association wants to add a cross to national and town emblems to stress that Poland is a country with a strong Catholic tradition.

The Unum Principium Association, known for having staged protests against Madonna’s concert in Poland in August, has come up with a new idea: the association wants to place a Latin cross in a Polish national emblem – on top of a golden crown worn by the White Eagle.

“The cross used to be a part of Poland’s national emblem till 1927, so it’s not a completely new idea,” says Krzysztof Zagozda from the Unum Principium Association.

The association also wants town emblems to contain a cross. “Many towns and cities had a symbol of the cross in their emblems but they were removed before WWII or during communism,” says Zagozda.

The aim of adding a cross to national symbols is to cultivate patriotism, claims the association. “For many Poles, the cross is a symbol of independence and freedom fighting,” says Zagozda.

The association plans to send letters to the President, the Parliamentary Speaker and MPs asking to draft an amendment to the bill on national symbols. Otherwise, it will prepare its own draft and forward it to the Sejm.

MPs are divided on the issue. Only the left has a negative stance on the introduction of crosses in emblems. Civic Platform deputy Stefan Niesiolowski says that a debate on the issue may be held, while the Polish Peasant’s Party MP Krzysztof Tchorzewski is skeptical about the idea and thinks it is unnecessary to reintroduce a cross in the national emblem. (mg/mmj)

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza