The liquidation of the Church Fund suspended for election. Or possibly forever

Project already submitted in March

At the end of March, the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk submitted a proposal to include in the list of legislative work of the government the bill aimed at eliminating the Church Fund. The minister explained at the time that this fund symbolized the deficiency of a clear separation of the state from the Church. She besides pointed out that over PLN 250 million were planned for this intent in 2025, of which 95 percent were contributions to the social safety of clergymen, and the remaining funds are usually utilized for charitable purposes, renovations and preservation of historical temples.

The bill prepared by Lewica assumes that contributions to the pensions of clergy will be co-financed by the curious parties themselves and by the Churches. The proposed cost sharing is 50 percent from the clergy and 50 percent from the Church as an employer. However, this rule will not apply to spiritual men or missionaries who do not gain income. In their case, all contributions would cover the Church.

Reform alternatively of liquidation

However, as fresh reports indicate, the government does not plan to act on the Church Fund at the request of the Left. In addition, part of the coalition sees the initiative of Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk as part of the electoral campaign. According to RMF FM, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz is about to present alternate proposals that could be supported by the president in the event of a win by Rafał Trzaskowski. The government most likely intends to improvement the Church Fund, but does not foresee the implementation of the proposal from the Left.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish commented on the thought at the end of March as follows:

Some of the solutions were not accepted by the Ministry of Finance, for example the taxation write-off, considering that it is besides burdensome for tiny spiritual unions. This is where dialog is needed, these are conversations that require care and I follow up with this care.

Deputy talker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski of PSL considered the actions of the Left as an effort to make ideological conflict and undermine the foundations of identity. According to unofficial information, the government does not plan to deal with the Act on the liquidation of the Church Fund before the presidential election, and this draft has not yet been included in the list of legislative work.