Journal 33 – Did Edward Gierek convert to Catholicism?

Edward Gierek (1913-2001), was first secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers Party from 1970 to 1980. It was the most powerful position in Poland in those times. The Communist Party’s Central Committee dismissed him from office in 1980, after thousands of Poles went on strike and demanded economic and political reforms. I 1981, Edward Gierek was expelled from the Communist Party. E. Gierek was a well-educated person. He spoke French fluently.
Poles are recollecting Gierek’s period as one of the best in Polish postwar history. E. Gierek visited many Western countries, and the Soviet comrades weren’t content with this reason.
Gierek passed away at the age of 88 because of dusty disease of lungs. He worked during a few years as minor in France before World War II.
After Gierek’s death, his son, Professor Adam Gierek, asked a local priest to conduct the Catholic funeral. It was a big surprise for the clergy and the most Poles.
The spokesman of the diocesan bishop commented, that if a person was baptized, don’t have any obstacles against a Catholic funeral. The official added, that Edward Gierek, who was a wide-known person in Poland, during his long life didn’t disturb divine rules.
I recollected my mother in this occasion. She was very honest and soft-hearted the country woman; she had common sense. My dearest mother often repeated me, “Stefan, remember that in our country all people believe in God, but not all have possibility to attend church”. She added, “I am convinced that Edward Gierek, the highest communist party official, believes in God, too”. My mother passed away over 20 years ago, but her opinion came true only after Gierek’s death.
A man cannot be an atheist and believer concurrently. But is a different possibility: a human being can be hypocrite. One who never lived under the Communist rule cannot understand that it isn’t a simple problem.