The Roman Catholic Church in the Process of Democratic Transformation: the Case of Poland

Abstract

Before the democratic changes started in Poland in 1989, the Catholic Church was a very important element of dualistic societal structure: “bad” communists, associated with the Communist Party and its apparatus; and “good” Poles, patriots, associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Opposition to political totalitarianism was strongly supported by the Church, identified with Polish national identity, freedom, and defence of human rights and democracy. The Church entered the period of transformation with this historical heritage and with the exceptionally high respect of society for its role as political actor and co-creator of civil society. Ten years of transformation brought significant changes: in the political system (from totalitarianism to democracy); in economics (from a controlled to the free market); in the orientation of the state (from locality to globality); in the restructuring of society (from dualism to pluralism); and in differentiation of worldviews. The author describes how the Catholic Church and its hierarchy are adapting to the changing situation.