A Roman Catholic internet forum is protesting against Scientologist Chick Corea’s concert at a church in Warsaw on 27 December.

The concert at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Warsaw’s Old Town quarter has led to protests at the ‘Tradycja Katolicka’ (Catholic Tradition) internet forum and in letters to the Warsaw Metropolitan Curia, claiming that Corea’s appearance in the church will amount to a profanation of the cathedral.

Father Bogdan Bartołt, the parish priest, said the concert will go ahead as scheduled, however.

“I do not know anything about Chick Corea’s religious beliefs and I am not interest in them, Father Bartołt told Gazeta Wyborcza.

“I don’t think Barbara Hendricks, who performed in the Cathedral a year ago, is a Catholic. All sorts of people come to our church, including non-believers. The letters of protest come from some traditionalists who are not ready to accept anything but organ music in a church setting. I myself would have doubts whether to host a Jazz Jamboree concert but this is going to be a Christmas concert. When I heard that Chick Corea is learning Polish carols I was dumbfounded,” he said.

The Warsaw Metropolitan Curia issued a statement on its website, which stresses that the concert of the ‘outstanding jazz pianist’ will be adjusted to the liturgical theme of the Christmas period and therefore the music will not contravene with the sacred character of the venue of the concert.

St John the Baptist’s Cathedral has already been the venue of concerts by the Hilliard Ensemble and the saxophonist Jan Garbarek. (mk)