Ways of expressing freedom of conscience and religion

- national facts

 

I.                  Medieval times

 

-  1341 – king Casimir the Great guaranteed  religious freedom to the followers of the Orthodox church

-  1356  - king Casimir the Great guaranteed religious privilidges for the Armenians

-  1424 - The Edict of Wieluń  issued  by King Władysław II Jagiełło which

              outlawed  Hussitism 

 

II.              The Reformation period in Poland

 

-  1570- religious agreement in Sandomierz considered to be the earliest ecumenical act in

   Europe

- January 1573 -the Warsaw Confederation -the nobles signed a document in which representatives of all the major religions pledged each other mutual support and tolerance

- 1573 -the articles of the Warsaw Confederation were incorporated into the Henrician

            Articles

- 1596 - Union of Brest  -decision of the ‘Church of Rus’to place themselves under

            the Pope of Rome

- 1600 setting up Arian Akademia Rakowska (Gymnasium Bonarum Artium),

            closed in 1638 by the constitution act

-1658- driving Arians out of the country

-1668- a law was passed which forbade converting from Catholic religion to other

            Religions

-1718- the last protestant was removed from the parliament

 

III.           The Constitution of May 3, 1791

 

in Article I acknowledged the Roman Catholic faith as the "dominant religion", but guaranteed tolerance of, and freedom to all religions.

 

 

 

IV.           The Duchy of Warsaw

 

-           Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw established on 22nd July 1807 stated that every religious worship is free and public.

 

V.              Kingdom of Poland (Congress Poland)

 

-           Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland established on 27th November 1815

            guaranteed citizens religious freedom and tolerance.

 

VI.  XIXth century – freedom movements and uprisings

 

VII.       Spring of Nations 1848

 

-         second half of XIX century  - Germanization and Russification of Poland

 

VIII. The beginning of XXth century

 

-  the partioners limited rights of the Poles, in 1901 they introduced teaching religion in German which led to strikes of students and parents

 

IX.  Regaining independence after I World War, 11 November 1918, the process of rebuilding the state

 

a)  Constitution of 17 March 1921 expressly ruled out discrimination on racial or religious grounds

b)  Constitution of 23 April 1935 guaranteed the freedom of religion, speech and assembly

 

X.  Political and economic dependence of Poland on The Soviet Union after II World War

-  Constitution set up on 22nd July 1952 seemingly guaranteed everybody religious freedom

-  years 1949-1955 –increased campaign against the Church which lasted to 1989

 

XI.  The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997 - Poland's current constitution

                                                        Article 53

1. Freedom of conscience and religion shall be ensured to everyone.
2. Freedom of religion shall include the freedom to profess or to accept a religion by personal choice as well as to manifest such religion, either individually or collectively, publicly or privately, by worshipping, praying, participating in ceremonies, performing of rites or teaching. Freedom of religion shall also include possession of sanctuaries and other places of worship for the satisfaction of the needs of believers as well as the right of individuals, wherever they may be, to benefit from religious services

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