STATE–CHURCH RELATIONS DURING THE CIVIC PLATFORM GOVERNMENT (2007–2015) AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECULARIZATION IN POLAND

Abstract

The phenomenon of the secularization of religion is generally defined as the liberation of individuals and institutions from the influences of religion. Over the past few years, this phenomenon has become increasingly evident in Polish society. The aim of this article is to illustrate the impact of the policies pursued after 2007, which directly influenced the spread of secularization in Poland. Although it is not possible to precisely identify the causes behind the decline in the number of adherents, the decisions made by the Civic Platform government on ideological matters, the growing disputes between the state and the Church, media reports of conflicts between government representatives and Church authorities, and the direct criticism of political and legal actions by clergy undoubtedly influenced the perception of religion and the Catholic Church as an institution in Poland. The article is divided into six parts. The first one addresses theoretical issues surrounding the processes of secularization and secularism. The second

section presents the programmatic assumptions of the Civic Platform regarding state–Church relations. The
third section illustrates the issues in state–Church relations during the Civic Platform’s governance. The
fourth part examines the impact of the Civic Platform’s policies between 2007 and 2015 on the perception
of the Church and religious practices. The fifth section explores citizens perceptions of religion, while
the sixth section presents public opinion on the state budget allocations to the Church Fund. The research
in this article demonstrates that political actions are among the key factors in studies on the processes of
secularization in Poland.