![]() Writing for the Catholic weekly Tygodnik Powszechny, Church sociologist Rev. At the same time, however, this partly results from the fact that since 2004 2.1 million Poles have emigrated to Western Europe. Ī 2014 survey conducted by the Church found that the number of Polish Catholics attending Sunday Mass had fallen by two million over the last decade, with 39% of baptized Catholics regularly attending Mass in 2014. This is in stark contrast to the otherwise similar neighboring Czech Republic, which is one of the least religious practicing areas on Earth, with only 19% declaring "they believe there is a God" of any kind. The majority of Poles continue to declare themselves Catholic. The southern and eastern parts of Poland are more active in their religious practices than those of the West and North. Tarnów is the most religious city in Poland, and Łódź is the least. By contrast, a 2005 study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research on the Apostolate revealed that only 14% of American Catholics take part in the sacrament of penance once a year, with a mere 2% doing so more frequently. A 2009 study by the Church itself revealed that 80% of Poles go to confession at least once a year, while 60% of the respondents say they do so more often than once a year. ![]() ![]() Polish Catholics participate in the sacraments more frequently than their counterparts in most Western European and North American countries. However, Poland still remains one of the most devoutly religious countries in Europe. In the biggest part of Europe, the rates of religious observance have steadily decreased. The CIA Factbook gives a number of 87.2% belonging to the Catholic Church in 2012. According to the Ministry of Foreigns Affairs of the Republic of Poland, 95% of Poles belong to the Catholic Church this survey bases the number of adherents on the number of infants baptized, as provided by the Catholic Church. Number of Catholics in Poland Procession in WrocławĪs of 2005, a majority of Poles, approximately 88%, identified themselves as Catholic, and 58% said they are active practicing Catholics, according to a survey by the Centre for Public Opinion Research. The church resisted demands to pay compensation to victims. In 2013 a succession of child sex abuse scandals within the Church, and the poor response by the Church, became a matter of some public concern. In 2013, Pope Francis, John Paul II's 2nd successor (and who was made a cardinal by the Polish pope), announced that World Youth Day, the world's largest religious gathering of young people, would be held in Kraków, Poland in 2016. His beatification in 2011 and canonization 3 years later further instilled pride and joy in the Polish people. John Paul's visits to Poland became rallying points for the faithful and galvanized opposition to the Soviet regime. The 1978 election of Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II strengthened the ties of identification. ![]() ![]() The establishment of a communist regime controlled by the Soviet Union following World War II allowed the Church to continue fulfilling this role, although recent allegations suggest there was some minor collaboration between Polish clergy and the regime. For instance, the Polish abbey in Częstochowa, which successfully resisted a siege in the Swedish invasion of Poland in the 17th century, became a symbol of national resistance to the occupation. During times of foreign oppression, the Catholic Church was a cultural guard in the fight for independence and national survival. Identifying oneself as Catholic distinguished Polish culture and nationality from neighbouring Germany, especially eastern and northern Germany, which is mostly Lutheran, and the countries to the east which are Orthodox. Further information: Christianization of PolandĮver since Poland officially adopted Latin Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |