Statement by the general secretary of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Artur G. Miziński, on the liquidation of the Church Fund
“In relation to the plans to replace the Fund with other legal and fiscal solutions, the Catholic Church is open to dialogue on this issue”, said Mgr. Artur G. Miziński, general secretary of the Polish Episcopal Conference. This is a reaction to changes regarding the Church Fund announced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“In connection with plans to replace the Fund with other legal and tax solutions The Catholic Church is open to dialogue on this issue” – stated the general secretary of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Mgr. Artur G. Miziński.
Mgr. recalled this in the announcement. Mizinski The Church Fund was created as a form of compensation for churches and other religious associations for the land properties stolen from them by the State.
“The legal basis for its creation was the law of March 20, 1950 onwards the state takes ownership of a dead handguaranteeing parish priests the ownership of agricultural farms and establishing an ecclesiastical fund”, it was added.
Episcopate “open to dialogue”
This is a response to the Prime Minister’s statement. Donald Tusk said this during the conference on Wednesday a team will be created to address changes in the Church Fund’s funding principles.
The head of government added that the point is to create regulations that “will do that towards a system of financial responsibility of the faithful towards their churchesthat is, a system of voluntary tax deductions for people interested in supporting their Church.
– It must be a decision of the faithful, not a decision of the State – concluded the Prime Minister. The budget bill for 2024 prepared by Donald Tusk’s government maintains the record amount of PLN 257 million for the Church Fund. This amount was already included in the budget draft of Mateusz Morawiecki’s cabinet.
The Church Fund is currently financed from the state budget. Its most important objectives are to subsidize or fully finance social and health contributions for the clergy (full financing applies to missionaries and cloistered nuns). This is where most of the funds go.
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2023-12-29 15:31:00
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