“Devastating” Decline in Religious Practice Among Young Poles, Says Catholic Primate

Notes from Poland ^ | 1/3/22

[marshmallow]

There has been a “devastating” decline in religious practice among young people in Poland, says one of the country’s most senior church figures, Wojciech Polak, the archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland.

He admits that the Catholic hierarchy’s failure to deal with sex abuse by clergy has been a primary cause, and has called for the church to continue the process of “purifying” itself.

However, Marek Jędraszewski, the archbishop of Kraków, has questioned his colleague’s interpretation, arguing that in fact the church has been a “victim” of the pandemic and young people’s growing use of technology.

Polak pointed to recently published data showing that less than 25% of young Poles now regularly practise religion. In the early 1990s, the figure was almost 70%.

“These are simply devastating numbers,” said Polak, in an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP). “A very strong re-evaluation is taking place in the young generation.”

Asked if the failure of the church hierarchy to deal with cases of abuse against minors had played a part in this, Polak confirmed that “undoubtedly the negligence of [church] superiors, who did not stand on the side of the wronged, undermines our credibility as a church community”.

In recent years a large number of cases of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Poland have come to light, and the Vatican has disciplined senior Polish bishops for their negligence in dealing with the issue.

[Candor7]

Old Poles. UNITE!

[teeman8r]

in before the catholic monkey pic...

[kearnyirish2]

“undoubtedly the negligence of [church] superiors, who did not stand on the side of the wronged, undermines our credibility as a church community”.

While that probably plays a role, the failure of the Church leadership to transmit genuine Catholicism to young people is most to blame. Now Poland’s Church can go the way of that of Ireland - which went the way of that in the US.

[dfwgator]

Maybe if the current Pope didn’t suck so much that might help.

[Gay State Conservative]

The European Union...a conspiracy to transform Europe into a Godless,socialist “paradise”.It worked in Ireland,in Germany and it’s working in Poland. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe it.

[Bernard]

In the early 1990s, the figure was almost 70%.

In the early 1990's, Poland was just starting to get out of the Soviet Union mentality. Now, 30 years later, the young Poles have more access to prevailing American morals and customs, along with the rest of the West. It's not surprising that the Church has become less important.

Look at yourself, Church, if you are wondering why you're less important.

[dfwgator]

America is poisoning the rest of the world with its garbage culture.

[x]

From what you say, it sounds like we should be looking at America.

[the_individual2014]

It is sad to say, I see it in parts of Europe from celebrity worship, to dating/ relationships, all poisoned by the US culture. I remember when back in the 90’s everyone wanted to be an American in a way and loved the culture, now not really.