Poland celebrates 1050 years of Catholicism amid tension between Church and State

Poland celebrated its 1,050th anniversary of its conversion to Christianity at the weekend, amid growing disagreements about the role of the Catholic Church in public life.

Closer ties between the new Polish conservative government of the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the country’s Catholic Church were visible during the three-day celebrations that started on 14 April. This worried liberal Catholics who are concerned about the recent Polish debate about a total abortion ban.

Polish Catholic bishops and believers, along with leading politicians, attended the three day festivities in Gniezno and Poznan honouring the baptism of Polish Duke Mieszko I some time around 966 AD.

In a speech during the ceremony in Gniezno Polish president Andrzej Duda said that in Poland “the spiritual and the state elements were woven together and remain that way”. “Poland is and will remain true to her Christian heritage, in which we have a well-tested, strong foundation for the future”.  

In a nod to a six-month political standoff in the country, Duda appealed for national unity “in accordance with the values that unite us”.  This was echoed by Archbishop Wojciech Polak, who said: “The baptism of Poland, grounded in the faith of the undivided Church, resulted in the spirit of ecumenical freedom and tolerance”.

Polish governing politicians present at the ceremonies sharply dismissed claims that the new conservative administration was undermining Poland’s constitutional order and basic human rights by controversial reforms to court operations,  tighter laws on abortion and tighter state controls over the civil service and public broadcasting.

The European Parliament recently issued a public resolution warning that recent steps of the new Polish government threatened democracy and the rule of law in the country. The policies have led to massive street protests in Polish cities.

“What is happening in the Polish state today sets us apart from our European history,” said Ryszard Petru, leader of the Polish opposition Nowoczesna (Modern) party.  “We do not respect any European standards that [Duke] Mieszko dreamt about.”

Some 90 per cent of Poles declare themselves to be Catholics. Many of them, however, have become increasingly sceptical about the Church’s teachings on abortion, in-vitro fertilisation and other moral and bioethical issues.

The recent call of the Polish Catholic Episcopate for a total abortion ban suppoted by the new conservative government met with demonstrative walk-outs in some Catholic churches as well as public protests in Warsaw. 

Former Polish archbishop of Poznan Juliusz Paetz was effectively banned by the Vatican from taking part in the anniversary celebrations. Paetz stood down from his post after being accused of molesting young seminarians and priests. He never admitted to any of the charges and still retains the role of senior bishop in Poznan.