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We want to talk about the role and place of the Church in a democratic society. I consider the issue to be very important and that is why I decided to actively participate in this discussion. Below are some introductory comments that I originally posted on the PP KOD Facebook forum:
1) Democratic state = secular state. Nobody is going to argue with this. However, it is more difficult to define exactly – and this is not just a Polish problem – what exactly this secularism would mean. It is generally defined differently by a Catholic or a follower of a different religion than by an atheist or an agnostic. This is evidenced by the repeated discussions about the place of the cross and other religious symbols in public space. I suspect that our discussion will also quickly polarize between Catholic and non-Catholic positions. And here is my request: without blunting the arguments, let us respect each other, because religion and worldview are very sensitive areas of each of us.
2) The rhythm of our discussions will certainly be determined by the fact that the Polish hierarchical church contributed to a large extent to PiS’s victory and now supports PiS’s rule. It is worth remembering, however, that the hierarchical Church, although the most visible and influencing one, does not constitute the entire Church. The Church also includes Catholics who appear at KOD demonstrations. Their role should be a wise criticism of the Church from within. Perhaps it is precisely these Catholics – alone in their Church and criticized from outside for their faults – who will have to bear the most heroic testimony of truly Christian attitudes and faith.
3) When thinking about the Polish Church in the context of democracy, we naturally focus on the Catholic Church. There are also other Christian Churches in Poland, whose representatives gave beautiful testimonies of patriotism and courage in the defense of human rights. Perhaps it is precisely these minority churches in Poland, not involved in business with the authorities, that will be given the role and honor of recalling the great contribution that Christian thought has for shaping democracy, and the great pro-democratic and dialogical potential of Christianity.
4) In the context of democracy, attention should be paid to two phenomena of the Polish religious landscape. The first is secularization – still quite slow, or, as sociologists of religion say, creeping. We have more and more professed atheists and agnostics. The second phenomenon is the increase in religious and cultural diversity in Poland, including the quantitative growth of followers of non-Christian religions: Islam, Buddhism and others. It seems that the breakdown of the religious and cultural monolith can serve very well in shaping democratic attitudes. On the other hand, however, it carries with it the risk of dangerous manifestations of intolerance, the formation of natural ghettos of co-religionists, the creation of various besieged fortresses, etc. smart educational programs and initiatives aimed at social inclusion.
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