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Religion: Belief & Practice

1 minute read
TIME

Belief & Practice The relations between church and state in Poland are distilled in an anecdote, current on the Continent, about the visit of Queen Mother Elisabeth of the Belgians to Warsaw last year, before the cleavage between Russian and Polish Communism became official. When the Foreign Office protocol officer assigned to the Queen accompanied her to Roman Catholic services on Sunday, she asked him if he was a Catholic. “Believing, Your Majesty, but not practicing,” he answered with some embarrassment.

“Oh, of course,” said the Queen quickly. “I realize—you’re a Communist.”

Replied the official: “Practicing, Your Majesty, but not believing.”

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