Polish Episcopal Conference Explained
The Polish Episcopal Conference or Polish Bishops' Conference (Polish: Konferencja Episkopatu Polski or KEP) is the central organ of the Catholic Church in Poland. It is composed of 3 cardinals, 24 archbishops and 118 bishops.
21st century
In 2018, KEP completed a survey on clerical abuse against children and found that 382 priests had been accused of abusing at least 660 minors.[1] The survey’s report led to the creation of the St Joseph’s Foundation to help abuse survivors[2] [3] as well as action against clergy.[4]
In summer 2020, KEP stated that church teaching on homosexuality was infallible and promoted conversion therapy programs.[5] [6]
In June 2023, KEP made an appeal for calm discussions on migration and promoted wise hospitality and solidarity.[7]
Members
- President – abp Tadeusz Wojda (since 14 March 2024)[8]
- Vice president – abp Józef Kupny (since 14 March 2024))[9]
- Secretary general – bp Artur Miziński (since 10 June 2014)[10]
- Presidium
- Commissions (only bishops can be members)
- for the Doctrine of the Faith – head abp Stanisław Budzik
- for Catholic Education – head bp Wojciech Osial
- for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments – head bp Piotr Greger
- for the Clergy – head abp Wojciech Polak
- for Christian ministry – head bp Andrzej Czaja
- for Missions – head bp Jan Piotrowski
- Charity – head bp Wiesław Szlachetka
- for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life – head bp Jacek Kiciński
- Marian – head abp Wacław Depo
- Bishops and religious superiors – head bp Artur Miziński
- for Polish diaspora – head bp Piotr Turzyński
- Revisions – head abp Stanisław Budzik
- Councils (priests, religious and lay members allowed)
- for Family – head bp Wiesław Śmigiel
- Science – head abp Marek Jędraszewski
- for Ecumenism – head bp Jacek Jezierski
- for Inter-Religious Dialogue – head card. Grzegorz Ryś
- for the Laity – head abp Adrian Galbas
- for Society problems – head bp Marian Florczyk
- for the Pastoral Care of Youth – head bp Grzegorz Suchodolski
- for Culture and Cultural Heritage – head bp Michał Janocha
- for Social Communications – head bp Rafał Markowski
- for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants – head bp Krzysztof Zadarko
- Law – head bp Ryszard Kasyna
- Economical – head bp Jan Piotrowski
- Teams (priests, religious and lay members allowed)
- for contacts with French Episcopal Conference – head bp Jan Piotrowski
- for contacts with Lithuanian Episcopal Conference – head bp Romuald Kamiński
- for contacts with German Episcopal Conference – head abp Stanisław Budzik
- for contacts with Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – head bp Arkadiusz Trochanowski
- for contacts with Polish Ecumenical Council – head bp Jacek Jezierski
- for help Catholic Church in East – head bp Krzysztof Chudzio
- for contacts with Russian Orthodox Church – head abp Wojciech Polak
- for Scholarships – head bp Henryk Wejman
- for Dialogue – bp Adam Bab, bp Roman Pindel, bp Adrian Put, bp Jacek Jezierski, bp Henryk Wejman
- for Alcohol Abstinence – head bp Tadeusz Bronakowski
- for programmed television transmission of Masses – head abp Józef Górzyński
- for Enthronement of Christ movements – head bp Andrzej Czaja
- for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers – head bp Romuald Kamiński
- Bioethics – head bp Józef Wróbel
- for Sanctuary – head bp Henryk Ciereszko
- for the Pastoral Care of Radio Maryja – head bp Wiesław Śmigiel
- for Promoting the New Evangelization – head bp Artur Ważny
- for novelization Polish Episcopal Conference regulations – head bp Krzysztof Wętkowski
- Press office
- Concordat commission
Presidents
(Until 1994, position held ex officio by the Primate of Poland)
Vice presidents
Secretaries general
See also
External links
Official website
Notes and References
- https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-09/warsaw-safeguarding-conference-titaniec-studnicki-poland.html Vatican News website, article by Marta Titaniec and Father Piotr Studnicki, dated September 22, 2021
- https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/polish-bishops-set-up-foundation-for-church-abuse-victims-8023 The First News website, article dated October 9, 2019
- https://rebus.us.edu.pl/bitstream/20.500.12128/23379/1/Studnicki_Saint_Josephs_Foundation.pdf University of Silesia website, Report on St Joseph's Foundation, by Piotr Studnicki and Grzegorz Strzelczyk (2022)
- https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/05/28/vatican-punishes-polish-bishop-for-neglect-in-paedophilia-case/#:~:text=The%20bishop%20is%20also%20required,such%20cases%20in%20the%20church. Notes From Poland, article by Agnieszka Wądołowska, dated May 28, 2021
- https://www.newwaysministry.org/2020/09/01/polish-bishops-claim-church-teaching-on-homosexuality-is-infallible/ New Ways Ministry, article by Robert Shine dated September 1, 2020
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/42053/law-and-justice-party-leader-praises-polish-archbishop-for-lgbt-opposition Catholic News Agency website, Law and Justice Party leader praises Polish archbishop for LGBT opposition, article dated August 19, 2019
- https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/07/12/polish-bishops-appeal-for-more-tolerant-rhetoric-on-migrants/ Notes From Poland website, article by Daniel Tilles dated July 12, 2023
- https://episkopat.pl/przewodniczacy-kep/ Polish Episcopal Conference website, Presidency page, retrieved 2023-1010
- https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-lynx-of-lodz-who-is-polands-new The Pillar Catholic website, article dated July 11, 2023
- https://polishscience.pl/en/minister-przemyslaw-czarnek-becomes-the-laureate-of-the-primate-wyszynski-award/ Polish Science website, article dated May 25, 2022
