Because the deep Christian commitment prevalent among Polish people is a blaring rejection of the Communist system. measures were taken by the Polish government to detract from the May celebration of their millennium. It scheduled mass political demonstrations and athletic contests during the period of religious festivities in order to draw away part of the crowds. It refused visas to foreign Catholic clergy to attend the millennium celebration in May. ostensibly because Polish Primate Stephen Cardinal Wyszynski invited them "without consulting the Polish government." The government also acted to curb the influx of tourists in general. The Polish government did not. however. dare ban the celebrations altogether. This may be in part due to the Communist claim that this year marks the millennium of Poland as a nation rather than as the anniversary of its conversion to Christianity.