Kościół katolicki jako podmiot oddziałujący na system polityczny

The purpose of the article is to analyse the definitions of the role that Catholic Church plays in the public sphere, as well as to propose the typology of forms of its impact on the political system. The term ‘Church’ is understood here as the ‘hierarchical Church’ rather than the community of believers. In the political science the Church is defined as a religious organisation, an institutionalised religious community, a group of interests, a political player or a political subject. The Church exerts influence on the political system by means of classical lobbying and moral sanctions. The power of this institution depends on: the religious structure of the society, the model of relations among religious denominations, the presence political parties that support the Church and, last but not least, the tradition.