Religious Laws and Freedoms in Contemporary Poland: Legislation and the Sociocultural Reality in the Republic of Poland The work at hand comprises a multifaceted analysis of religious rights and freedoms in Poland after the post-1989...
moreReligious Laws and Freedoms in Contemporary Poland: Legislation and the Sociocultural Reality in the Republic of Poland
The work at hand comprises a multifaceted analysis of religious rights and freedoms in Poland after the post-1989 political transformation. Its multidimensionality is anchored in a presentation of the legal state of affairs, yet expanded to encompass a range of determinant sociocultural factors, as well as a verification of the actual condition of religious rights based upon testimonies by religious minority representatives themselves. The book consists of three parts. In the first chapter, elementary rights and freedoms that fall within the realm of denominational law have been presented – above all, a guarantee of freedom of conscience and religion as well as the official equality of all denominations. This section of the volume is focused on the analysis of denominational law currently in effect in Poland, starting from legal acts of the highest order (e.g., constitutional or international law), through statutory law, and including acts of the lowest order (e.g., regulations and dispositions). Apart from more general laws, also presented here are detailed regulations describing the relations between the state and specific religious associations. In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, the Concordat serves as one example; some of the other churches have entered into separate legal agreements. The Polish state model is described with respect to religious denominations: a separation amenable to the maintenance of institutional relations. The second chapter outlines different factors that strongly bear on the situation of certain churches and religious associations. Firstly, it relates to the statistical structure of denominations with the causes and effects of this structure for the situation in Poland. Secondly, it points to historical events that influenced the current situation as well as the consciousness and identity of Poles. Thirdly, it explains denominational politics after 1989, with its priorities, advantages, and failures. Finally, it presents the characteristics of global and international processes that influence the situation of religions in Poland. These include globalization, secularization, modernization, liberalism, and the emergence of new religious movements. In the third chapter, the attitudes of various religious minority representatives are expounded with regard to the legal resolutions that the state has accepted as well as their practical implementation. The primary source for this analysis was religious press articles. Among the most common topics appearing therein are the Polish constitution, attitudes towards the European Union, the Concordat, statutory laws, religious education in public schools, as well as ecumenism and inter-religious relationships. The selection of these aspects from among many was determined by the prevalence of recisely these problems in religious minority print media. Similar criteria were applied in the selection of periodicals: 'Zwiastun' from the Lutheran Church, 'Jednota' from the Polish Reformed Evangelical Church, 'Słowo Prawdy' from the Christian Baptist Church, and 'Przegląd Prawosławny' from the Polish Orthodox Church. Religious rights and freedoms in contemporary Poland constitute an incredibly complex issue. The legislation is maintained within international standards. Its sociocultural, real implementation, however, is at times constrained by certain difficulties arising, among other things, due to a lack of training among government officials or sluggishness in legal procedures. The nearly monolithic (Roman Catholic) denominational structure organically affects the potential for implementing certain religious minority rights despite the fact that the basic principles do remain the same for everyone.