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The Limits of Political Activity of Clerics in the Light of Canon Law and the Constitution of the Republic of Poland: A Normative and Ecclesiological Analysis
Abstract
The article examines the limits of political involvement of Roman Catholic clergy in the light of theology, canon law, and the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It demonstrates that the prohibition of clerical political activity is a canonically disciplinary norm whose ratio legis is rooted in the sacramental and ecclesiological identity of ordained ministry and is grounded in Canons 285 § 3 and 287 § 2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. From a constitutional perspective, this prohibition corresponds to the principles of the neutrality of public authorities, the autonomy of religious communities, and the worldview neutrality of the state with Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. The study shows that violations of this prohibition lead to distortions of priestly identity, polarization within ecclesial communities, and the loss of the Church’s prophetic credibility. The analysis concludes that clerical non-involvement in party politics is essential for preserving both the Church’s mission and constitutional balance.
Keywords:
clergy, political activity, canon law, worldview neutrality, Church autonomyDetails
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.