A Polish tax authority audit found approximately €75,000 in irregularities within grants received by the Lux Veritatis Foundation in 2023 from several ministries.
Lux Veritatis Foundation Audit Results
The Lux Veritatis Foundation operates TV Trwam, and its president is Redemptorist priest Tadeusz Rydzyk, founder and director of Radio Maryja. The audit concerned funds received in 2023 from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, totaling over 4.1 million złoty.
The State Tax Administration identified irregularities totaling 327,200 złoty, originating from the Ministries of Defence, Family, and Justice – representing less than 10% of the total audited grants.
Questionable Contracts with Government Ministries
The Ministry of National Defence commissioned three short reports on athlete-soldiers as part of the “Through Sport to the Military. Season 2” project. The State Tax Administration found the foundation did not adhere to the contract terms, specifically commissioning recording and trailer production from a company linked to the Foundation.
Irregularities in “Win Marriage” Program Funding
The State Tax Administration also questioned the implementation of a contract for a program cycle titled “Win Marriage,” commissioned by the Ministry of Family. Payments to Father Rydzyk’s foundation were made from a bank account not specified in the contract, violating the agreement and regulations.
Issues with Justice Fund Projects
Irregularities also concerned projects funded by the Justice Fund, involving two contracts. The first was for the “Centre for the Protection of Christian Rights” project, involving four years of broadcasts on crime prevention and a free legal aid office.
The State Tax Administration found the produced programs were shorter than agreed upon, legal services provided by an external law firm were undocumented, and the foundation reported and settled administrative costs unrelated to the contract.
“Truth and History” Project Concerns
The second contract involved the “Truth and History” project, including a series of programs and film essays, and conference organization. Again, produced programs were shorter than contractually obligated, and the foundation failed to document research results and reported costs unrelated to the agreement.
Positive Assessment for Foreign Ministry Contract
The State Tax Administration positively assessed the implementation of the contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the “In Spring the Earth Thaws” project, finding “no irregularities.”
Foundation’s Response and Ongoing Investigation
The audit reports have been forwarded to the public funds providers, who will make a final decision regarding the identified irregularities. The State Tax Administration is awaiting their position and will proceed accordingly.
The Lux Veritatis Foundation was contacted for comment on March 25th, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Previous Control and NIK Report
From May 2024 to November 6, 2025, the Lux Veritatis Foundation was subject to control by the State Tax Administration in Warsaw, focusing on the legality of public funds management in 2023, including grants from the Ministry of Justice and the Justice Fund.
Lidia Kochanowicz-Mańk, Financial Director and Board Member of Lux Veritatis, stated in November on TV Trwam that the control resulted in a “positive outcome,” with auditors favorably assessing the foundation’s handling of public funds.
NIK Findings on Justice Fund Projects
In May of last year, the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) published findings from its analysis of contracts for projects funded by the Justice Fund – “Centre for the Protection of Christian Rights” and “Truth and History.” NIK analyzed data from 2023 and prior years.
NIK determined that the Foundation produced most products in accordance with the grant agreements, but noted that both projects targeted a largely homogeneous audience (viewers of TV TRWAM and users of related media), limiting the potential for preventative impact on potential offenders.
A significant portion of the produced materials did not directly address crime prevention, but focused on broader ideological issues and various historical topics. The grants directly supported the Foundation’s statutory activities, with a limited connection to the Fund’s objectives.
The Foundation stated in a May declaration that the reservations indicated in the NIK audit report were not based on legal provisions or grant agreements, but on a “far-fetched and inconsistent interpretation” of the agreements.
The Foundation also claimed to be the target of “massive actions by state authorities and individuals and groups associated with the power apparatus,” including lengthy and detailed audits, searches by armed officers, and the publication of insinuations and lies.