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used to be a common sight in rural Poland , indicating the local frequency of the station. Currently the station broadcasts on numerous FM frequencies in Poland, via Satellite and the Internet .]] . The complex is fenced and monitored.]] Radio Maryja is a work. A political and religious movement led by the Father Director is called the Radio Maryja Family. The name "Maryja" assumed by the group, is a Traditional form of the name "Mary", referring to Mary, Mother Of Jesus by the Polish Roman Catholic community. Critics of Radio Maryja say that it sparked numerous scandals which abused the authority of the Catholic Church in Poland. {Link without Title} PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE Radio Maryja's programming consists of a political and religious News Service (6 times daily), frequent recitals of the Rosary , Breviary , Chaplet Of Divine Mercy , the unction to The Black Madonna Of Częstochowa , discussions on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, daily transmission of the Holy Mass or of the Pope's pilgrimages, and sociological and political programs such as "A Program for Farmers" or "Unfinished Conversations". Recorded broadcasts of the station are filed on many internet sites, for example: 1) web site of Jerzy Nowak of Radio Maryja, 2) Radio Maryja broadcasts - ''"strange and interesting programme fragments"'', and some on 3) the Radio Maryja official web page . OWNERSHIP AND FINANCES The radio station is owned by the , the anti-Semitic chairman of the American Polish Congress 1. AUDIENCE Radia Maryja's audience is reputed to consist largely of elderly, rural listeners. The station frequently claims that it has "millions of listeners", but market research usually shows lower numbers: approx. 1.2 million people daily. The audience peaked in 1998 and was estimated to be around 2 million listeners. The station estimates that it is listened to by well over 10% of adults in Poland[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2289567.stm , but the most comprehensive market research by Radio Track for the whole of Poland (June-July 2005) shows a 2.5% "share of listening time". [http://www.smgkrc.pl/radiotr/pobrane/polska.jpg A March 15, 2007 '' Economist '' article summarized that ''"The church in Poland is divided between Vatican loyalists, who often oppose close involvement in politics, and energetic dissidents linked to Radio Maryja, a hardline broadcaster. This once had huge clout, articulating the feelings of Poles alienated by the country's brisk, materialist business culture and the decay in moral norms. But Radio Maryja's audience has shrunk in the past decade to no more than 2% of all current listeners."'' Radio Maryja is one of several Catholic media outlets in Poland. Radio Maryja Family The Reverend every year, which in 2006 attracted about 200,000. These pilgrimages help to recruit members because in Poland the cult of Mary (mother Of Jesus) is particularly strong. Representatives of the Radio Maryja Family also visited the Vatican five times during the papacy of John Paul II . These visits are continuously spotlighted on the Radio Maryja web page alongside political articles, although John Paul II clearly stated that priests should not be involved in politics. Father Director and his organization has dealt with politics and strongly supported the conservative party PiS and its leaders, the Kaczynski Brothers . RELATED ENTERPRISES Enterprises related to Radio Maryja, independent of the Roman Catholic Church authorities, and initiated by the Reverend Rydzyk are the TV network '' ("Our Daily"), the ''Nasza Przyszłość'' ("Our Future") Foundation, the ''Lux Veritatis'' ("The Light of Truth") Foundation, and the '' Wyższa Szkoła Kultury Społecznej I Medialnej '' ("The College of Social and Media Culture") in Toruń. The rector of the College until recently was the Reverend Rydzyk. Radio Maryja's opponents say that this network of six enterprises is dominated by the Reverend Rydzyk and call it the "Media Empire of Father Rydzyk", or the "Rydzyk holding company" {Link without Title} . CRITICISMS AND CONTROVERSIES Intolerance A recent survey on European "hate radio" prepared by Radio Netherlands cited Radio Maryja as controversial. One of Radio Maryja's programs, "Unfinished Conversations", is according to the magazine which emphasizes Nationalism , Antisemitism , and Anti-communism . Radio Maryja also propagates Anti-German Prejudice . {Link without Title} Antisemitism Critics agree that the radio station crosses the line of in Poland" and "a Jewish newspaper for Poles". Nevertheless, supporters of Radio Maryja claim that hate or anti-Semitic statements transmitted by the station are rare and originate mostly from its listeners and not its employees.[http://sunday.niedziela.pl/artykul.php?nr=200409&dz=polska&id_art=00035 The antisemitism of Radio Maryja has brought the station to worldwide attention. A report of the initiated a petition condemning Father Rydzyk's alleged antisemitic statements.[http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nl/content.asp?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=312458&content_id=%7B51C89206-C557-408D-82D4-08AACDB67B53%7D¬oc=1 See a video of Rabbi Marvin Hier talking about the Jew-hating Father Rydzyk . In 2004 Radio Maryja went on a campaign in defense of Father Henryk Jankowski , a priest accused of antisemitism and Pedophilia . (State prosecutor found no proof of child molestation, but stated that relations between Father Jankowski and the altar boys were improper. The scandal resulted in a recall of Father Jankowski from the post of the parish priest {Link without Title} ). In July 2007 over 600 Polish Catholic intellectuals, journalists, priests and Catholic activists signed a public letter of protest condemning the antisemitic extremist Father Tadeusz Rydzyk. (the signed letter: [http://www.ckid.pl/ , in Polish). In August 2007 Nasz Dziennik, a newspaper tightly linked with Radio Maryja, suggested approval of the Holy Father for Father Rydzyk's behavior - an article titled "The Holy Father Blessed Us" described in detail how Father Rydzyk and his company went to Vatican and kissed the hand of the Holy Father. The Vatican promptly announced: "In reference to requests for clarification related to (Father) Tadeusz Rydzyk's 'kiss' ... the matter does not imply any change in the Holy See's well-known position on relations between Catholics and Jews".[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09640903.htm] Conspiracy theories A recent affair regarding the were accused of betrayal and conspiracy as they supposedly knew everything ahead of time. Conflict with Vatican The deputies and EuroMPs addressed an open letter to the chair of the Episcopate of Poland concerning "protection for Radio Maryja". The controversial Father Director remains the head of Radio Maryja and the radio has ignored the warning from the Vatican ambassador.[http://www.wwrn.org/sparse.php?idd=21595 Several Polish of Radio Maryja in general. Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek , the former secretary general of the Episcopate of Poland, said that Radio Maryja is ''"a real and growing problem"'', it ''"offers a reduced view on Christianity"'' and ''"is extremely compromising and shameful, sick and dangerous"''. {Link without Title} The Pope ."'' {Link without Title} Euroscepticism Radio Maryja strongly opposed Poland's joining of the from Russia. Despite his Euroscepticism , Father Director applied for funds of the European Union alloted to help boost Polish businesses and researchers from 2007-2013. Radio Maryja often states that it is attacked by liberal politicians and by media who are doing everything to assault “the only alternative for Poland”.[http://www.radiomaryja.pl/query.php?__s=Atak+na+Radio+Maryja&__a=2 (original web site, in Polish). Support for death penalty Radio Maryja promoted the political program of . {Link without Title} Involvement in politics Direct involvement in political issues is against the Catholic Church's directives for priests. Nevertheless, controversial politicians, including , bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, the former secretary general of the Episcopate of Poland, replied that he could not imagine a priest starting a political organization.[http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/7745/ . In January 2006, a journalist from the Polish tabloid Fakt phoned the minister for agriculture Krzysztof Jurgiel , claiming to be Father Director's assistant, and told Jurgiel that Father Director's car had broken down. The minister immediately sent a government limousine for the Reverend Rydzyk. The reporter said he had carried out the provocation to check Rydzyk's influence in the government. In February 2006 the Law And Justice party signed a key agreement with two other political parties. To the fury of the Polish press, only journalists from Radio Maryja's sister television network Trwam and its director the Reverend Rydzyk, who actively supported Law and Justice during the election, were allowed in the room. The president of the Polish National Broadcasting Council, Elzbieta Kruk, stated that she has no authority to act in regard to these complaints, as she has been appointed by the Polish president Lech Kaczynski ; critics add that the government fears of alienating the station's dedicated audience, who make up a significant fraction of the constituency of the governing party Law And Justice . {Link without Title} In March 2006, Polish literary critic and television personality Kazimiera Szczuka satirized a young woman who frequently recites prayers on Radio Maryja, not knowing that the woman was confined to a Wheelchair . Despite Szczuka's public apology, she was found guilty of "insulting a Disabled person and mocking her religion" by the Polish National Broadcasting Council. The station on which she had appeared was fined the equivalent of $125,000; according to the Polish press, the highest fine the Council had ever levied. The sole dissenting member of the Council, Wojciech Dziomdziora, stated that "It is probably right to say" that the political support of Radio Maryja for the ruling party "is the real reason" for the serious punishment of Szczuka, while Radio Maryja is given a free hand for disparaging comments on other's religions.[http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F40616F73A5B0C708CDDAC0894DE404482 GOVERNMENTAL BACK UP The current Polish government openly supported Radio Maryja. In December 2006 the Prime Minister of Poland, Jaroslaw Kaczynski , joined the 15th anniversary celebrations of Radio Maryja and praised the station as a source of "''comfort and hope''". Kaczynski warned that ''"an attack on Radio Maryja is an attack against freedom"'' [http://www.radiomaryja.pl/artykuly.php?id=311 (article in Polish by Radio Maryja). Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the President of Poland, was a regular guest of Radio Maryja.[http://www.adl.org/main_International_Affairs/poland_challenge_of_extremism.htm] SCANDALS WITH PRESIDENT'S WIFE In 2007 Father Rydzyk heavily offended noted that ''"Mr. Rydzyk has not denied making the comments"''. {Link without Title} TRIVIA
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