Polski katolicyzm – specyfika i wyzwania. Wybrane aspekty zagadnienia (cz. II)

Abstract

The material object of the article is the reality of Polish Catholicism whereas the formal one is its existence (including the legitimacy of national Catholicism), characteristic features (positive and negative qualities) as well as challenges (development and elimination). The article also attempts to justify the main idea of the title (which partly assumes the existence of a Catholicism of this kind) and to provide updated findings on the issue. Due to the variety of aspects related to the topic, the article is divided into two parts. The first discusses the existence and characteristics of Polish Catholicism (cf “Studia Bydgoskie” 10 (2016) pp. 23–50), while the second one, presented here, offers an insight into pastoral implications. The article deals with three of the typical features of Polish Catholicism – its national and mass character as well as clerical nature – and demonstrates them in two study areas: one related to the Polish character and the other connected with the number of believers and with cooperation between the clergy and lay people.