Szczepan Marczynski, on his website, writes that "Father Jerzy Popieluszko (1947-1984) was a Catholic priest and a chaplain of the independent trade union "Solidarnosc". He participated in establishing Workmen Fellowships and from August 1980 was associated with workers and trade unionists. After martial law was declared in Poland on 13 December 1981 he launched various charity activities. He also celebrated masses for the Homeland on a regular basis, delivering religious and patriotic sermons. In his sermons everything was called by its proper name, good was good, and evil was evil, truth was truth and lie was lie. He called for respect for human rights and human dignity. He was also actively involved in helping the victims of political persecutions and their families. The quotation "Overcome evil with good" was his motto. In October 1984 he was kidnapped by officers from the communist Security Service and brutally murdered."

In December 1984, four policemen were put on trial and subsequently jailed in connection with the priest's kidnapping and death. During the trial it emerged that he had been severely beaten trying to escape his kidnappers.

In 1997 the Vatican started the process which could eventually lead to the beatification of Father Popieluszko.

Name information ©Szczepan Marczynski with additional information from a BBC News retrospective published 30/10/2005