Polish bishops urge protection of life from conception after Sejm abortion vote

Protecting life from conception

The Polish Episcopal Conference (KEP) closed its 406th plenary assembly in Zakopane on Saturday, 24 October, and its chairman, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, used the closing press conference to set out the Church's position on life. Wojda grounded that position in a principle he presented as the starting point for any debate on the subject.

“Every person has their dignity and right to life, to protection from the moment of conception until natural death.”

He added that the bishops' appeal was aimed especially at unborn children and asked for respect for the life of every child. Wojda also called for help for women in difficult life situations. He said the Church has offered support for many years so that mothers are not left alone with their problems.

Reaction to the Sejm vote

The appeal responded to a Sejm vote on Tuesday, 20 October, on changes to the rules on terminating pregnancy. The chamber passed two bills. One restores the ground for abortion in cases of a severe foetal defect, which a Constitutional Tribunal ruling of 2020 had removed. The other amends the Criminal Code to provide for partial decriminalisation of abortion carried out with the woman's consent, along with help with abortion where a severe defect is found.

Wojda said the Sejm's decision could negatively affect how society views the value of life and undermine Poland's tradition of defending it. The bishops described their opposition to such a policy as one that does not build but destroys.

Commission on abuse of minors

The assembly adopted an amended statute for the independent expert commission that is to examine sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church in Poland, and named prof. Piotr Franaszek as its chairman. Bishop Sławomir Oder explained that the commission was set up at the previous plenary, but starting work required obtaining legal personality under state law.

“Today we took a very important step forward. This empty legal structure is starting to take very concrete shape.”

The draft statute was sent to the Ministry of Interior and Administration for consultation, and after comments the text was revised and adopted again on Saturday. The revised statute will go back to the ministry so the legal personality procedure can continue. Franaszek said the commission is at an early stage, and its next step will be inviting experts to cooperate.

Raising the young generation

The assembly also discussed how young people are raised. Bishops pointed to the digital world, loneliness among young people, peer pressure, and violence and aggression as challenges. Bishop Wojciech Osial said concern for good grades should not overshadow the shaping of character and conscience.

“In our concern for good grades and good exam results, are we not forgetting to shape the person, to shape conscience?”

Osial said responsibility for young people rests with parents, teachers, educators and society as a whole. He appealed for dialogue that rises above divisions between the communities and institutions involved in raising them.