Politicians and Clergy
During a discussion with experts from both sides, a substantive dialog was launched and solutions were sought that would be acceptable to both parties. – we can read in the Communication, which was published after the gathering of the Subcommittee on religion in School last week.
Barbara Nowacka, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Miłosz Motyka and bishops delegated by the Episcopate are in the subcommittee established in the mediate of October. As Miłosz Motyka, quoted by “Gazeta Wyborcza”, said, the gathering was conducted in a calm and factual atmosphere. The Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment expressed his belief that both sides would shortly scope a compromise, adding that both the MEN and the Episcopal representatives would gotta quit any of their demands.
Change, but not until 2026
"Gazeta Wyborcza" states that the clergy initially made hard demands and demanded their acceptance. First of all, they wanted spiritual or ethical lessons to be compulsory for all students. However, the government did not accept specified a solution, and the clergy were to step down after a while.
At the following stages of the discussion, bishops proposed a compromise to the Minister of Education on reducing the number of spiritual lessons in schools. According to the findings of journalists “Gazet Wyborcza”, during the last gathering of representatives of the government and the Polish Episcopal Conference, clergymen were to accept the proposal of the Ministry of Education.
Currently, students have 2 hours of catechesis per week unless they choose to quit these classes with the approval of their parents. Minister Nowacka proposes, in turn, that all schools should introduce a regulation to 1 lesson of religion per week.
At the end of the meeting, participants learned that bishops agreed to limit the number of spiritual lessons to 1 week, but provided that the change came into force only from 2026. The reason is, as the church dignitaries point out, it takes time to adjust the programming base and prepare fresh textbooks.
The Prime Minister will decide
However, the final decision will belong to Donald Tusk. The text of the regulation will be voted on at a gathering of the government. It is not known erstwhile exactly, but there is simply a large anticipation that this year.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Science, asked to comment on the information provided by the ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’, refused to comment. However, the Secretariat of the Polish Episcopal Conference informed that all data are available on the KEP website, and for the minute the communication contains complete details of the case.
What changes are we talking about?
A gathering of clergymen with politicians may propose that the erstwhile clearly want to deal with our government. It is interesting, however, that this is not just about playing on time. What argument do bishops use? We'll take a look.
That's actually 2 arguments, or actually 1 broken into 2 parts. fresh textbooks and a fresh curriculum request to be developed. This translation would make sense if it was any another subject specified as mathematics, Polish language or geography. On the another hand, it sounds alternatively dubious erstwhile it comes to religion – a kind of activity that is not expected to be based in explanation on solving technological exercises, and on promoting religion in a transcendent existence. The Bible and catechism do not change that often, especially the first of these works.
I, of course, disregard the fact that I do not think religion should be "worked" at all at school. He who believes cares about it – and it is not crucial whether he promotes religion at home, at school or in the catechical room
