The President of the Polish Episcopate appeals for protection of the life of the unborn and support for their parents
The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki appealed for the building of a society of solidarity which does not exclude children living under their mothers’ hearts and for professional and comprehensive support for their parents. The appeal was published with reference to the submission to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of legislative proposals concerning changes to the conditions for the protection of the lives of unborn children and the health of their mothers.
The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference appealed to all people of good will – believers and non-believers alike – “to reflect deeply and protect the value of human life from conception to natural death”. He also expressed his concern about the fact that “some circles – while advocating so-called women’s right to free abortions – do not take into account the right to human life in its first, prenatal phase of life”.
“It is an indisputable fact that human life begins from its conception, that is, the fusion of the parental cells” – Archbishop Gądecki recalled. He stressed that at the moment of conception, “a new, unique person is created who develops dynamically, taking advantage of the shelter of the mother’s womb”. “This is not a matter of religious conviction, but an indisputable fact, confirmed by the current state of biological science” – he added.
“Human life from conception onwards should always be respected and protected” – stressed the President of the Polish Episcopate in his appeal. He referred, among other things, to the Constitution, which “shallensure the legal protection of the life of every human being” (Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland) and the Constitutional Tribunal ruling of 28 May 1997 confirming this. He also recalled that after the collapse of the communist system, a number of legal changes were undertaken in the direction of increasing the protection of the right to life of unborn children. Therefore, as he pointed out, the direction of possible changes should be even greater protection of life. He pointed out that “it is necessary to remember at the same time to increase assistance to pregnant women in difficult life situations”.
“I therefore call for the building of a society of solidarity that does not exclude from our community the youngest, innocent children living under their mother’s heart. I appeal for their fundamental right to life to be respected and for their parents to be supported professionally and comprehensively” – wrote the President of the Polish Episcopate.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
