Ordo Iuris Institute, Life and household Center and Fidei Defensor Association have prepared Appeal “I will not take down the Cross”, in defence of the presence of Christian symbols in public space and constitutional spiritual freedom.
The initiative is simply a direct consequence to scandalous events at the simple School in Kieło and to systemic actions aimed at limiting the legal protection of Christians in Poland. Organizers call on citizens to object to remove crosses from public space and announced legislative changes that may weaken freedom of conscience and religion.
The events of December 2025 at the Primary School in Kieło in Kaszubach, where 1 of the teachers repeatedly removed, were the impetus for the appeal. The cross from the wall of the classroom, and erstwhile thirteen-year-old students brought and suspended a fresh plastic crucifix, the female – despite their opposition – took it off and threw it in the trash can.
This event caused a wave of social outrage and led to to the intervention of lawyers of the Ordo Iuris Institutewho represent the injured students and their parents. The Ordo Iuris Institute besides published legal analysis of events in Kielno, indicating that throwing the Cross into the basket in the presence of students may give emergence to criminal, disciplinary and professional responsibility. According to the Institute's lawyers, specified action constitutes an insult to the subject of spiritual worship and a violation of the duties of the teacher and the principles of pedagogical supervision.
The Ordo Iuris Institute, Life and household Centre and Fidei Defensor emphasize that The Cross is not just a spiritual symbol, but the foundation of Polish national identity, culture and history, and its removal from public institutions is simply a form of discrimination against millions of citizens.
The authors of the appeal point out that events in Kielno are not an isolated incident. They are included in A wider trend in weakening Christian protection and their rights in Poland. The organisers of the initiative inform that after Donald Tusk's cabinet has changed power and assumed government, administrative decisions and public narratives increasingly appear, which marginalize the voice of believers and undermine the rule of world-viewed impartiality of the state.
— The State has no right to fight religion or to remove it from public life. Worldview neutrality means equal treatment for all, not the elimination of Christianity, as indicated by the initiators of the appeal.
At present, peculiar concerns are raised regarding the actions of the Donald Tusk Government in the area of spiritual freedom:
- Amendments to the Criminal Code: The experts of the organization point to a draft bill prepared by the Ministry of Justice, which, according to the demands of any political groups, is intended to limit the protection of spiritual feelings in the penal code.
- Restricting spiritual Teaching: The decisions of the Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka to remove the evaluation from religion are considered incompatible with the Constitution from average assessments and plans to reduce the number of lessons.
- Atmosphere of consent: According to the organizers, the anti-Christian rhetoric of any ruling coalition politicians creates a climate in which aggression occurs, specified as the profanations of Christmas scenes or attacks on clergymen.
The appeal is addressed to all citizens who are close to the values of freedom, pluralism and respect for constitutional rights. Signatories request Stopping the Dissension of spiritual Freedom, respect for Christian symbols and the clear position of public authorities in defending the rights of believers.
Organizers encourage active participation not only by signing the appeal, but besides by expressing your position on social media. Anyone can print a photograph with the Cross and mark it with the hashtag #NoZdejmeKrzyz, thus showing solidarity and opposition to the removal of Christian symbols from public life.
The appeal can be signed online at: https://niezdejmekrzyza.pl/
