Posługa charytatywna Kościoła w świetle dokumentów II Polskiego Synodu Plenarnego

Abstract

II Polish Plenary Synod (1991-1999) emphasized taking care of people who are in need as one of the priority forms of pastoral activity of the Church in Poland, devoting to this issue a separate document under the title The Church’s Charity Service. The need for the Church’s care of the needy was also stressed in other synodal documents. They show the theological foundations of charity service, Contemporary manifestations of poverty in the Polish society, and the priority areas of charity service of the Polish Church. II Polish Plenary Synod included care of poor families, of sick, old and handicapped people, as well as aid to social misfits, especially alcoholics, drug addicts and prisoners, into the leading areas of charity service of the Church in Poland. The article shows forms of conducting charity service in the mentioned areas. The reflection is based on both Polish and foreign literature, as well as on review studies conducted by the author in 2001 among parish priests and lay Catholics in Poland.