2023-10-14 14:29:43
On September 21, the Social Affairs Council of the Episcopal Conference published a “Electoral Vademecum” which was seen as a call to vote in favor of the ruling conservative party. The text recalls the obligation for every Catholic to participate in elections, adding that it is “a duty of conscience”. And he indicates what principles should guide him in his choices: “Catholics unconditionally support the right to life from its conception to its natural end,” says the text. They “seek to protect the rights of the family based on monogamous marriage of persons of the opposite sex”. These priorities are also those that the Law and Justice party (PiS) has defended since 2015 and its coming to power.
On the other hand, the text says nothing about welcoming migrants, a necessity put forward by Pope Francis, but vigorously opposed by PiS. As a result, this text clearly has the appearance of a gesture of support for the government, published at a time when Law and Justice is preparing to face difficult elections. The vote takes place this Sunday, October 15.
The alliance of the throne and the altar
This call comes in a context where the PiS party has continued, for eight years, to reach out to the Polish Church, and especially to its most conservative wing: the majority deputies came in large numbers in the summer last in the jubilee of Radio Maryja, the very reactionary radio station created by Father Ryzyk.
The listeners of this radio are in tune with PiS, one of whose major reforms consisted of toughening the law on abortion, which was very restrictive. Abortion was only possible in three cases: a pregnancy resulting from rape, a danger to the health of the mother or a malformation of the fetus. And now, even in the latter case, it is considered a crime.
The PiS party has also moved closer to a certain number of Catholic leaders by distributing subsidies to them in complete opacity. “The Polish concordat provides for the separation of Church and State, but allows collaboration for the common good, explains Marcin Prezeciszewski, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Information Agency. This allows the state to finance the renovation of Polish churches and religion classes in public schools. » This government uses these provisions to support the bishops who are most favorable to its ultra-conservative agenda.
As a result, some Poles are turning away from the Church. “Traditionally, in Poland, 90% of artists and intellectuals said they were close to the Catholic Church. But while the PiS party claimed to identify with the Church, this intelligentsia has divided and a part now declares itself at a distance from the bishops and the institution. remarque Marcin Prezeciszewski.
Religious practice in decline
This alliance of the throne and the altar accelerates the decline in religious practice, while it was traditionally very high. Only 28% of Poles go to mass once a week. They were 36% in 2019. The drop is particularly noticeable among young people: only 23% of 18-24 year olds say they are practicing, when the figure was 69% at the end of the communist period.
While part of the public today forcefully rejects the government’s policy, the opposition now wants to review certain privileges granted to the Church. The Civic Coalition, which could win the elections, has warned that it intends to better control subsidies. She also wants to end the financing of religion classes in public schools and eliminate the Ecclesiastical Fund which finances 80% of the retirement contributions of priests and missionaries.
A part of the Polish Church refuses this exploitation by a political party. But his voice has more difficulty being heard. And the whole of Polish society is therefore sliding towards a de-confessionalization similar to that which exists in neighboring countries.
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