In Poland, church and state draw nearer, and some Catholic faithful rebel

Source: Associated Press

In Poland, church and state draw nearer, and some Catholic faithful rebel

BY JOANNA KOZLOWSKA AND MICHAL DYJUK
Updated 1:41 AM EDT, October 10, 2023

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As Law and Justice seeks an unprecedented third-straight term in the Oct. 15 parliamentary election, the conservative, nationalist ruling party is trying to bolster its image as a defender of Christian values and traditional morality. Yet many Poles are questioning their relationship with the Catholic Church, and some cite its closeness to the government as a key reason.

For Gala, the breaking point was the abortion ruling but she is also put off by Law and Justice’s harsh anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. She feels the alliance between the church and party has led to increased religious encroachment into Poles’ daily activities.

“The church should stay within the church, where it should gather its faithful and build community. It shouldn’t be in schools, at the openings of swimming pools, roads and shopping malls,” she said.

Poles, following a path taken by some other traditionally Catholic nations, are becoming increasingly secular, accelerated by disgust over clerical abuse scandals that have rocked the Polish Catholic Church in recent years.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/poland-election-catholicism-catholic-church-religion-ba0f1167d3b75de9c52f4f2d827462b6