Kościół katolicki w "Listach do Polskiego Radia i Telewizji Polskiej" (1950-1989)
The Catholic Church in "The Letters to the Polish Radio and the Polish Television" (1950-1989)

Summary/Abstract: The letters sent by the listeners to the Polish Radio and (subsequently) by the viewers to the Polish Television in the years 1951-1989 and published in the three-volume Księga listów PRL [The Book of Letters of the Polish People’s Republic] were subject to linguistic analysis. The said letters constitute a record of the genuine moods and problems affecting the lives of the Polish people, thus enabling the reconstruction of the influence of propaganda on the attitudes of Poles towards the Catholic Church. The selected material allowed the author to identify the letters presenting the demands and comments regarding, generally speaking, the functioning of the public sphere (including the media), the relationship between the Church and the State but also – more precisely – church holidays, objects of worship, prayers, religious instruction, revelations, and the persons associated with the Church (bishops and Pope John Paul II). As a result of the recipients’ becoming active participants of mass communication, the basic roles ascribed to the editorial staff of the national radio and television could be identified.

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