Communiqué from the Church side following the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Religion in Schools
On 28 November 2024, the second meeting of the Subcommittee on Religion in Schools, appointed by the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference, was held at the seat of the Ministry of National Education. Due to the lack of agreement, representatives of the Church announced an urgent appeal to the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference.
We publish the full text of the communiqué:
Communiqué of the Church side after the meeting of the Subcommittee on Religion in Schools
On 28 November 2024, at the seat of the Ministry of National Education, the second meeting of the Subcommittee on Religion in Schools, established by the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference, was held.
Representatives of the parties once again exchanged opinions on amendments to the regulation of the Ministry of National Education on the conditions and manner of organising religious education in public kindergartens and schools.
The Church side once again drew attention to the contradiction of the project with higher-order regulations. It also recalled that regulation by the Minister of Education of matters concerning the organisation of religious education in kindergartens and schools requires acting “in agreement with the authorities of the Catholic Church and the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church and other churches and religious associations” (Article 12(2) of the Education System Act), as confirmed by the Constitutional Tribunal in its judgment of 27 November 2024. It also reiterated the compromise proposal for reform, consisting of a staggered, gradual reduction in the size of religious education in secondary schools over several years, with respect for the labour rights of catechists and the introduction of the principle of obligatory teaching of religion or ethics due to the need for the axiological formation of pupils.
Due to the lack of agreement, Church representatives announced an urgent appeal to the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference.
Signed by members of the Church side of the Subcommittee on Religion in Schools appointed by the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference:
Bishop Marek Marczak
Secretary General of the Polish Bishops' Conference
Bishop Wojciech Osial
President of the Commission for Catholic Education of the Polish Bishops' Conference
Bishop Damian Muskus, OFM
Rev. Prof. Piotr Stanisz
Warsaw, 28 November 2024
