Religion in the Polish political debates : stances adopted by the major political actors

The chapter describes and explains different interpretations regarding the public role of the religion as well as relations between state and religion presented by the political actors in Poland. The study highlights different interpretations of the role of the religion in the Polish public sphere represented by the political parties. This will enable answering the question about the role and place of religion in the Polish society. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the chapter presents how political actors translate religious reasons into the secular language of the public sphere. It focuses mostly on interpretations and attitudes towards the religion in public sphere by referring to the declarations of political parties that have dominated the political scene from 2003 to 2018. Since not all of the parties have formulated unequivocal statements regarding the issue of the religion in a modern society, the chapter refers only to these political parties (the Law and Justice Party, the Civic Platform, the League of Polish Families, the Self- Defence of the Republic of Poland, the Palikot’s Movement, the Democratic Left Alliance, the Labour United, Kukiz’15, the Modern, the Poland Comes First, the United Poland and the Solidary Poland), which specified their opinions in the debates over an abortion ban, religious education in schools, access to contraceptives or the IVF treatment, same- sex civil unions, public financial support of churches etc. The chapter identifies three general types of narration on the public role of the Church and religion: religious organizations as normal actors of the public sphere (1), Church as a unique partner of the state (2), religion and Church as a fundament of the state, nation and society (3). The results of the analysis indicate that the significance of religious issues in political disputes have diminished in Poland although the Catholic Church has partially retained its political influence.