Bishops protest against LGBT+ declaration

“In accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Poland, everyone has the right to demand the protection of a child from demoralisation, which is why we call for the withdrawal of doubtful solutions in the so-called the LGBT+ declaration,” the bishops participating in the 382nd Plenary Meeting of the Episcopal Conference (KEP) of Poland in Warsaw wrote in a statement issued on Wednesday.

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In mid-February, the president of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, signed the so-called LGBT+ declaration. In the field of education, the document includes introducing anti-discrimination and sexual education in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards and guidelines in every school.

Ideological imaginations

The authors of the statement stressed that, although they object to this project, there is no lack of respect for the dignity of LGBT people, but their decision is motivated by their concern for the common good of the whole society, and especially for the respect of the rights of parents and children.

"The church does not use the LGBT name, because it contains itself the questioning of the Christian vision of man. According to the biblical image, God created man in his image and likeness, as a man and woman, different in their calling, but equal in their dignity. Being needed by God is the basis of marriage and the family, which is the essential cell of society,” they stated.

In their opinion, the proposed alternative visions of a man "do not dwell upon the truth about human nature, and refer only to made-up ideological imaginations."

Pastoral document

Wacław Depo, the head of the Council for Means of Communication of KEP told Polish Radio that the Episcopate was working on a special document directed to parents and educators, regarding how to act and how to oppose the contents included in the LGBT declaration.

He stressed that it would not only reject the content of the declaration, but more importantly, develop a special programme which will then be used by priests, chaplains and teachers.