Poland’s Catholic Church denounces burning of Judas effigy with long nose

The Catholic Church in Poland condemns Friday’s Easter ritual in the town of Pruchnik in which residents beat, hanged and burned an effigy of Judas Iscariot made to look like a Jew according to anti-Semitic stereotypes such as a long nose and ultra-Orthodox attire.

“The Church clearly expresses its disapproval of practices that violate human dignity,” writes Bishop Rafal Markowski, chairman of the churche’s Council for Religious Dialogue and of its Committee for Dialogue with Judaism.

“The Catholic Church will never tolerate manifestations of contempt towards members of any nation, including the Jewish people,” continues the statement, which is shared by Polish Ambassador to Israel Marek Magierowski.

In the context of the events that took place in Pruchnik on April 19, the Church expresses her disapproval of practices that violates human dignity – writes Bishop Rafał Markowski, Chairman of the Council for Religious Dialogue and of the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism. pic.twitter.com/0J8K5m81lr

— EpiskopatNews (@EpiskopatNews) April 22, 2019