A meeting of representatives of the Polish Bishops' Conference with the Diplomatic Corps was held at the Secretariat of the Polish Episcopate in Warsaw

https://episkopat.pl/doc/227053.W-Sekretariacie-KEP-odbylo-sie-spotkanie-przedstawicieli

The guests gathered in the plenary hall were welcomed by the Spokesman of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Fr Leszek Gęsiak SJ. He recalled that despite wars and historical turmoil, Poland has never lost its national identity, and what has always united the Polish people is faith in the one God.

In his introduction, the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda SAC presented the most important issues that the Catholic Church in Poland lives by today, as well as bilateral issues between the State and the Church. “In the history of our statehood, since the baptism of Mieszko I in 966, Christianity and the Church have always been an important point of reference. On our, Polish soil, one of the most famous Poles in the world was born: St. Pope John Paul II, whose 20th anniversary of death we celebrated a few days ago” – he stressed. Archbishop Wojda then gave a synthetic overview of the image of the Church in Poland today, regarding the structure of the Polish Bishops’ Conference and the religious life of Poles.

The Church in Poland is still an important voice in the public debate

 “The image of the Church is integrally inscribed in the image of social change. We can't talk about the changing figures in the Church without noting how great a crisis Polish society is in in terms of demographics, family breakdown, redefinition of marriage, declining fertility rates, etc. As Poland will change demographically and culturally, so will the image of the Church. A special point that marked the religiosity of Poles was undoubtedly the pontificate of St. John Paul II with its impact on political and social changes in society” – the President of the Polish Episcopate pointed out. He added that despite the progressive secularization of European societies, which is also affecting Poland, as well as the consequences of the secular model of life, which are increasingly affecting society, “the Church in Poland is still an important voice in the public debate and a mainstay of Christian values in the formation of moral and ethical attitudes”.

The issue of changes introduced by the Ministry of National Education in the rules for organizing religious education in public schools and kindergartens, as well as the proposal to eliminate the so-called Church Fund, was addressed in his submission by the Deputy President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Józef Kupny, who is also a co-chairman of the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Polish Government and the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Religious education and the Church Fund

“In our opinion, the changes regarding the combination of classes are unfair or even discriminatory to believers. They violate educational law and basic pedagogical principles. They also introduce serious problems in the implementation of the religious education program. The changes were made without the legally required agreement with the Church party. The Ministry of National Education has not taken into account the opinions and demands presented in meetings by Churches and religious associations” – Archbishop Kupny admitted. He went on to discuss the actions that the Polish Bishops' Conference has taken on this issue, and announced that the Polish Episcopate is currently considering appropriate interventions with international institutions.

Referring to the issue of the Church Fund, Archbishop Kupny pointed out that “it is important to adopt a solution that is in accordance with the provisions of the Concordat, as well as the constitutional principle of a consensual form of regulation of relations between the State and Churches and other religious associations”. He recalled that the Concordat assumes that matters requiring new solutions will be regulated through new agreements. He indicated that the Team for the Financing the Church under the Church Concordat Commission is ready to work in dialogue with government representatives. At the same time, he stressed that “the rationale for the existence of the Church Fund has not ceased” and “there can therefore be no question of abolishing the Church Fund, but of transforming it into a new system”.

“We are always ready and substantively prepared to discuss these issues with the government side. Unfortunately, it turned out to be much more difficult to reach an agreement, especially on the subject of the presence of religious education in schools” – Archbishop Kupny stressed.

The mission of the Church

Archbishop Adrian Galbas SAC, Metropolitan of Warsaw, spoke during the meeting on the pastoral affairs of the Church in Poland. “The Church in Poland, as in the whole world, is experiencing difficult times. We are in the throes of secularization involving the elimination or reduction of the role of religion in public life” – he noted. He added that this process has also taken hold in Europe, and has appeared in Poland later, but “with great force”. He noted that the secularization process accelerated especially after 2019.

Archbishop Galbas also referred to what can be done in this situation. Among the remedies, he mentioned the very broad reflection that is being undertaken in the Church, exemplified by the Synod on Synodality convened by Pope Francis. “Such reflection has been very honestly conducted both at this grassroots level in the dioceses and at the level of the Polish Bishops' Conference” – he acknowledged.

As a second measure, the Metropolitan of Warsaw cited the intensification of activities that are the goal of the Church's activity, namely evangelization. “The proclamation of Christ is the mission of the Church. This is our first task and all others must be subordinated to it” – he assessed. “So the celebration of the sacraments, the proclamation of the word of God and the leadership of the people of God” – he specified. Archbishop Galbas also noted that the family and youth require great pastoral attention these days.

The meeting was summed up by Apostolic Nuncio to Poland Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, who is also dean of the diplomatic corps. “I hope that the meeting allowed everyone to get to know Polish society better” – he noted.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference