Father Tadeusz Rydzyk has denied that he has ever bad-mouthed First Lady Maria Kaczyńska or President Lech Kaczyński. According to weekly magazine “Wprost”, Father Rydzyk – director of the controversial Radio Maryja ultra-Catholic media group - offended the president and his wife at meetings with students from The University of Social & Medial Culture in Toruń.
"The first lady is a witch, who should be submitted to euthanasia" were his words on Maria Kaczyńskia. He allegedly called Lech Kaczyński "a conman surrendering to the Jewish lobby".
Maciej Łopiński, minister at the presidential chancellery called father Rydzyk’s utterance as absolutely scandalous on Polish TV3. Minister pointed out he had no certainty if the recording was genuine, therefore he would wait for confirmation before he would make any more comments.
The metropolitan bishop of Lublin Józef Życiński is shocked, too. He said on TVP3 that if "Wprost" magazine’s revelations were true, father Rydzyk’s position was against the teachings of the Holy Gospel and constituted an embarrassing testimony to his culture.
"I hope that the first lady won’t suffer because of that", added the clergyman.
“That’s provocation”, said Father Rydzyk on Radio Maryja. He said he had never offended the president or his wife.
Director of Radio Maryja also said that even if his opinion on the authorities had been critical, the entire context should be taken into account.
According to Father Rydzyk - the media have blown the case out of proportion and he himself would never even think about "offending anyone ". In his opinion, it is "Satan who’s putting stumbling blocks into his way", but "we should not be manipulated and get divided". Director of Radio Maryja added: "Satan doesn’t like those who commune in Christ".
The Redemptoristine from Toruń also said on his radio that "the truth should be spoken out, even though it upsets Satan. We cannot exist without that truth".
Father Rydzyk stressed that instead of wasting time on those allegations, public opinion should look at what was achieved on Jasna Góra (St. Mary’s sanctuary in Częstochowa) during last week’s celebrations of the 15th anniversary of Radio Maryja’s operations in the presence of PM Jarosław Kaczyński and other state representatives.
He called the whole situation a “fight of the spirits”. “They [media] always want to make us quarrel,” he said. “There’s been such a media circus around this case. But the truth must be told,” he emphasized. He also appealed to listeners for prayer, also „for those, who are in the service of evil.”
Father Rydzyk’s lecture described by “Wprost” was recorded in April. The meeting of the Radio Maryja director with the students was devoted to the First Lady’s speech on April 8, when she and a group of over 50 women appealed to the politicians not to make the abortion law more restrictive.