Solidarity trade union distances itself from Romney ad with papal footage

September 06, 2012

Solidarity, the Polish trade union whose protests three decades ago helped lead to the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe, has distanced itself from a Republican National Committee advertisement that mentions former Polish president (and former Solidarity leader) Lech Walesa’s endorsement of Mitt Romney.

The ad, which criticizes Obama’s stance on religious liberty, includes footage of Blessed John Paul II visiting Poland.

“Every election campaigner uses various methods and devices,” said Marek Lewandowski, a spokesman for the union. “But in exploiting pictures of the Pope, Mr. Romney is clearly going against the Church's social principles. Voters should see the huge contrast between what John Paul II taught and the kind of business practices Romney engages in.”

“As a Christian union, whose statute is based on Catholic social teaching, we have a negative view of Obama's stance on abortion, euthanasia, gay partnerships and other issues," Lewandowski added. “But we can't engage in the US elections by declaring for either side, so we're stressing this was a private meeting [between Walesa and Romney] which Solidarity opposed.”

 

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Further information:

• Solidarity spokesman criticizes Romney for using pope images in TV ad (CNS)
• Romney "Be Not Afraid" ad 2012 (YouTube)