The Polish church and the country's president are trying to calm passions over a cross erected in front of the presidential palace in memory of the previous president. The wooden cross has become a flashpoint between conservative Roman Catholic supporters of former President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed along with 95 others in a plane crash in Russia in April, and Poles supporting separation of church and state.
Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz and other bishops appealed Thursday to a group that has blocked the removal of the cross to allow it to be moved to a nearby church.
The palace, now occupied by President Bronislaw Komorowski, also unveiled a plaque commemorating the tragedy on the building's facade in hopes it will calm the dispute.
SIC: WFP