Controversial Polish priest is banned by Archdiocese of Edmonton in Canada

The Archdiocese of Edmonton has denounced a priest and head of Poland’s controversial Radio Maryja, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk.

The decision came after B’nai Brith Alberta approached the Archdiocese with concerns the priest would continue to visit the region.

In 2016, Radio Maryja alleged that United State senators were critical of the Polish government because of the senators’ Jewish background. The radio station reportedly received sanctions for the broadcast.

In the following year, Father Rydzyk aired a sermon in which he criticised many of his followers for “synagogue-type behaviour”.

It has been suggested that the broadcaster has a 25-year history of airing antisemitic content to its audience, and it has been denounced by two popes in the past.

Abe Silverman, spokesperson for B’nai Brith Alberta, stated: “We are grateful to [Archbishop Richard Smith] and his diocese for taking this principled and very important step to recognise that there are just some people in this world that you want to try and avoid because they’re divisive and racist.”

Andrew Erhkamp, spokesperson for the Archdiocese, said that there has been no further request to invite Father Rydzyk, and that future requests to do so would be denied to all parishes.

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