Notonly did it expose how far the Church’s influence over ordinary people had receded,

Catholic intellectual deeply committed to the Polish-German dialogue,Kazimierz Wóycicki, recalls his own experience in an internment camp atthis time

‘In spite of everything,’ wrote the Polish bishops, ‘in spite of this situationburdened almost hopelessly by the past, or rather just because of thissituation ... we cry out to you: let us try to forget! No polemics, no moreCold War. ...’

To cite Paul Goossens once again: ‘Almosteveryone present in Leuven at that time came from Catholic high schoolsand had experienced at least eighteen years of Catholic upbringing. Therewere people present who, at this particular moment, settled their accountswith that past and who shouted words which, earlier on, they had barelybeen permitted to think.’ ‘With this revolt Flanders, which had thus far livedin fright of Rome and Mechelen, lost its fear of the bishop’s crozier