Uwarunkowania i zasady zaangażowania katolików świeckich w życiu publicznym

Abstract

The contemporary state of Catholics’ participation in public life in Poland is a result of the complex vicissitudes of the Church and of the Polish nation, especially during the 123 years when Poland was partitioned, during World War II and during the 45 years of Communist dictatorship. Since 1989 Catholics in Poland live under the conditions of freedom and democracy. The new conditions force a change in the place and the role the Church plays in the society, but also give a possibility of making a choice, of relativism of values and norms, moral individualism and of belonging to various social groups; they also exert a significant influence on the mentality and personality of people. A Catholic should enter public life well prepared. For this reason the preparation for his public activity will become more and more important. Preparing Catholics for participating in public activity should serve studying Catholic social teaching and its moral indications. Also pastoral formation is necessary that would tend to learn about public issues and evaluating them according to the criteria of common good and the dignity of a human person. All initiatives connected with formation should raise in Catholics interest and sensibility to the need to take part in public life. Participation of Catholics in public life may assume various forms. They include: expressing opinions and beliefs about public issues, taking part in elections, participation in a representative organ or collegial body that fulfills public functions on the grounds of inner arrangement or voting and performing functions that have a decision-making character. According to the teaching of the Council, those are called to direct participation in public life “who are talented [...] or may be appropriate for it; and this is both a difficult and noble art” (DCC 75).