English
The first meeting of the Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops’ Conference in its new composition was held in Warsaw on May 23. The main topics discussed were creating publications and church documents on the culture of social life, encouraging Catholics to participate in public life, and promoting active participation in voting during parliamentary, presidential, and local elections.
The full text of the communiqué follows:
The Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops’ Conference held its first meeting in Warsaw on May 23, 2023. The new composition includes Bishop Marian Florczyk as the chairman, with Bishop Jacek Grzybowski, Bishop Andrzej Przybylski, and Bishop Piotr Turzyński as members. The consultors are Prof. Michał Gierycz, Dr. Milena Kindziuk, Rev. Prof. Henryk Skorowski SDB, and Rev. Dr. Grzegorz Zieliński.
Bishop Marian Florczyk gave an opening speech after introducing the participants. Then the Council for Social Affairs discussed its main objectives, tasks, and rules of procedure. At the request of the Chairman, current, most pressing social problems were indicated, which in the future should be the subject of work of the members of the Council.
The problem of the scope and methodology of planned activities was also discussed, including developing a plan to create various types of publications or Church documents on the culture of social life, involvement of Catholics in public life, or active participation in voting and elections (parliamentary, presidential, local government).
At the meeting, there was a proposal to create the first document outlining the responsibilities of Catholics in society amidst the complex challenges of modern times. The aim is to help Polish citizens better understand and navigate today’s reality according to the teachings of the Decalogue and Gospel.
The Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops’ Conference has scheduled its next meeting for September 20, 2023.
Warsaw, May 23, 2023
Translated by Sr. Amata Nowaszewska / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
