In Poland, the Catholic church backed abortion bans and authoritarian politics. Young people are turning away

The close ties between Poland’s ruling Law & Justice party and the church appear to be alienating voters

Maria Skóra
Wed 5 Apr 2023

The Catholic church in Poland is close to an existential crisis. For one of the most Catholic countries in the world, and the homeland of Pope John Paul II, this is unprecedented. Poland is not becoming an atheist country overnight, but the trend is indisputably towards secularisation, especially among younger Poles. This will have significant political consequences for the ruling national conservative Law & Justice party (PiS), which has close ties with the church. Meanwhile, the country’s next parliamentary elections are due to take place this autumn.

The Catholic faith has long been one of the distinctive pillars of Polishness, and played an important role in the nation-making process. In times of partitions, Nazi occupation and communism, the Catholic church portrayed itself as a bastion of resistance in the long quest for Polish independence.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/05/catholic-church-poland-law-and-justice-party-young-voters


Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland: Holy Father will find a changed country – from abortion to homosexuality

Pope Francis' visit to Ireland: Holy Father will find a changed country - from abortion to homosexuality
The Ireland Pope Francis will see is very, very different to the one John Paul II was greeted with when he visited the country in 1979.

by Michael McHugh & Jo-Anne Rowney
24 Aug 2018

The last time a Pope visited Ireland was 1979.

More than 90 percent of people were Catholic, now it is down to less than 80 per cent.

But that's not all that's changed since then.

Continued: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pope-francis-visit-ireland-holy-13132206