The Polish-Catholic National Church: Between Messianism and Socialism

Abstract

Religious reformism is sometimes linked with social radicalism. In Poland, perhaps the most striking example of this was Father Andrzej Huszno’s Polish-Catholic National Church, which was active in the 1920’s. The PKKN doctrine linked proletarian anti-capitalism and Polish national messianism of romantic provenance with an attempt to re-interpret Christianity in the theosophical spirit. This made Huszno’s movement a tactical ally of the Piłsudkiites, who initially tried to maintain their social-radical and anticlerical traditions, and also make religious structures subordinate to the state (the Orthodox Church first in line). The Piłsudkiites’ turn towards conservatism after the May Coup meant that the PKKN lost ground under its feet.