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
editIn 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
edit- 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
- President – abp Tadeusz Wojda
- Vice president – abp Józef Kupny
- Primate of Poland – abp Wojciech Polak
- Metropolitan Cardinals – card. Kazimierz Nycz, card. Grzegorz Ryś
- Secretary general – bp Artur Miziński
- 6 diocese bishops (chosen for 5 years) – abp Wacław Depo, abp Adrian Galbas, abp Józef Górzyński, bp Andrzej Czaja, bp Sławomir Oder, bp Wiesław Śmigiel
- 2 auxiliary bishops (chosen for 5 years) – bp Marian Florczyk, bp Piotr Turzyński
- 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
- Fr. Leszek Gęsiak SJ
- Concordat commission
Presidents
edit(Until 1994, position held ex officio by the Primate of Poland)
- 1919–1926 – card. Edmund Dalbor
- 1926–1948 – card. August Hlond
- 1948–1981 – card. Stefan Wyszyński
- 1981–2004 – card. Józef Glemp
- 2004–2014 – abp Józef Michalik
- 2014–2024 – abp Stanisław Gądecki
- since 2024 – abp Tadeusz Wojda
Vice presidents
edit- 1969–1978 – St. card. Karol Wojtyła
- 1979–1994 – card. Franciszek Macharski
- 1994–1999 – abp Henryk Muszyński
- 1999–2004 – abp Józef Michalik
- 2004–2014 – abp Stanisław Gądecki
- 2014–2024 – abp Marek Jędraszewski
- since 2024 – abp Józef Kupny
Secretaries general
edit- 1918–1919 – bl. bp Antoni Julian Nowowiejski
- 1919–1925 – bp Henryk Przeździecki
- 1925–1926 – bp Romuald Jałbrzykowski
- 1926–1946 – bp Stanisław Kostka Łukomski
- 1946–1968 – bp Zygmunt Choromański
- 1969–1993 – bp Bronisław Wacław Dąbrowski
- 1993–1998 – bp Tadeusz Pieronek
- 1998–2007 – bp Piotr Libera
- 2007–2011 – bp Stanisław Budzik
- 2011–2014 – bp Wojciech Polak
- 2014–2024 – bp Artur Miziński
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ Vatican News website, article by Marta Titaniec and Father Piotr Studnicki, dated September 22, 2021
- ^ The First News website, article dated October 9, 2019
- ^ University of Silesia website, Report on St Joseph's Foundation, by Piotr Studnicki and Grzegorz Strzelczyk (2022)
- ^ Notes From Poland, article by Agnieszka Wądołowska, dated May 28, 2021
- ^ New Ways Ministry, article by Robert Shine dated September 1, 2020
- ^ Catholic News Agency website, Law and Justice Party leader praises Polish archbishop for LGBT opposition, article dated August 19, 2019
- ^ Notes From Poland website, article by Daniel Tilles dated July 12, 2023
- ^ Polish Episcopal Conference website, Presidency page, retrieved 2023-1010
- ^ The Pillar Catholic website, article dated July 11, 2023
- ^ Polish Science website, article dated May 25, 2022