Communiqué from the 401st Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference

https://episkopat.pl/doc/230386.Episkopat-o-biezacych-sprawach-Kosciola-w-Polsce-komunikat-po

We publish the full text of the communiqué:

Communiqué from the 401st Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference

 

The 401st Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference was held in Katowice from 10 to 12 June 2025, under the presidency of Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda SAC.

1. The bishops met in the capital of Upper Silesia to mark the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Katowice, which was established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI with the Bull Vixdum Poloniae unitas. In 1992, by the decision of St John Paul II, it was elevated to the rank of archdiocese. The main jubilee celebrations took place in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Katowice, where the Holy Mass was presided over by the papal legate Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz.

2. The Polish Bishops' Conference expresses its joy at the election of Pope Leo XIV. It assures of prayerful accompaniment and support in his pastoral mission for the universal Church. It expresses its great desire that the Holy Father, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, will visit our country so that the faith of the Polish people will be strengthened.

3. One of the main topics of the meeting was the issue of changes in Religious Education in schools. The bishops reaffirmed once again that they oppose the measures taken by the Ministry of National Education limiting and obstructing Religious Education in schools. They await the Constitutional Tribunal's consideration of the motion challenging the changes introducing a reduction in the size of the hours of Religious Education and their placement in the timetable immediately before or after compulsory classes. At the same time, bearing in mind the changes introduced by the Ministry, the bishops have started a discussion on a new curriculum for Religious Education adapted to the situation. Given the dynamic changes in society, it should have a broader cultural, educational, social and historical dimension. The bishops appeal to parents and students to defend Religious Education in schools. They support the social initiative to collect signatures for a civic bill on the compulsory choice of Religious Education or ethics lessons by pupils.

4. With regard to the health education classes introduced by the Ministry, the bishops urge parents to consider deeply the decision to have their children participate in these classes, since the content proposed therein is not always in accordance with Catholic ethical principles and interferes with the parents' right to bring up their children according to their world view.

5. The bishops have undertaken a reflection on the development of general guidelines for parish catechesis, which would include its specificity as a long-term, integrated process that accompanies the faithful at different stages of life. At the centre of the proposals discussed is initiatory catechesis, aimed at full Christian initiation and leading to a mature life of faith. Attention was also drawn to the importance of mystagogical catechesis, deepening the experience of the sacraments, and permanent catechesis, promoting ongoing spiritual development and answering the existential questions of contemporary man. It was emphasised that all these forms should be present in parish pastoral care in a coherent way, adapted to the situation of the faithful and rooted in the life of the community. It should be remembered that the subject of catechesis is the whole Church, and the parish is its privileged place. On the other hand, in terms of education and communication of the faith, the co-responsibility of all environments is necessary: family, school and parish. Concern for parish catechesis does not in any way imply the abandonment of Religious Education at school. Parish catechesis and Religious Education in school need and complement each other.

6. The bishops took note of the current status of work on the establishment of a Commission of Independent Experts to investigate the sexual abuse of minors. Further comments were made on the further procedure for its statutes and rules of operation. The bishops express their gratitude to the Primate of Poland Archbishop Wojciech Polak and the Team led by him, which has completed its activities, for preparing concrete foundations for the next stage of work. The Plenary Assembly decided to appoint a Team for the elaboration of documents concerning the functioning of the Commission of independent experts to investigate the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors by certain clergy. Bishop Sławomir Oder was elected its chairman.

Praying before Our Lady of Justice and Social Love in Piekary Śląskie, the bishops, through her intercession, ask for reconciliation and harmony in our homeland. At the end of the school year, they thank teachers and catechists for their difficult and responsible work. They also support all teachers of Religious Education who, in the current situation, have been forced to make very serious changes in their lives. The bishops also entrust to God all the affairs of the Church in Poland and give their pastoral blessing to their compatriots at home and abroad.

Signed by the shepherds of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 401st Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference.

Katowice, 12 June 2025