The conscience clause among teachers? “The secular state is not … – Polish Radio

The conscience clause among teachers? "The secular state is not … – Polish Radio

“Although most agree that the secular character of the state, as to the fact that the state should be secular in nature, however, some equate secularism with secularism, which calls for the closure of religion in the sphere of private life of the individual, which in practice means the active Atheisation. The principle of secularism should be understood only in this way that public authorities will not impose citizens profess a particular religion or ideology “- Archbishop Gądecki wrote in a statement published Thursday on the website of the episcopate.

” The secular state is therefore not the removal of crucifixes from public or religious schools, but rather on taking care of it, that there is no discrimination on grounds of belief “- said the prelate, who cites the words of the Minister of Education Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska that schools should be neutral worldview.

“If the teaching of religion in matters of state were to be truly impartial, it should not be at all these issues deal with, for example, prohibit or prescribe anything in this regard. However, this is impossible. Require different considerations organizational, financial, but primarily ideological, due to the wishes of “- notes Archbishop Gądecki.

In his opinion, when there is a conflict” between a well-formed conscience and the written laws of, the citizen is always right to conscientious objection. “‘A citizen is not obliged in conscience to observe the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the requirements of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel” – wrote the chairman of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate, invoking on the records of the Catechism the Catholic Church.

 
 The prelate also called John Paul II’s encyclical, arguing that unjust laws put people morally upright in the face of the dramatic problems of conscience. “When they are required to cooperate (collaborate) in morally evil actions, they have a duty to refuse to participate in these activities,” – said in a statement. Archbishop Gądecki adds that the refusal is not only a moral obligation but also a basic human right, which is why it is a human right, it should be recognized and protected by civil law.

“School ideologically neutral”

Mucha said that a public school should be ideologically neutral. In this way, commented appearing on the internet appeals to teachers filed Declarations of Faith, which recognized the primacy of the law of God.

– I hope that this document will remain only in the realm of design. I hope it does not become a contribution to unleash some religious war in the Polish school – said the minister. It indicated that the public school in Poland under the Constitution and various other acts, including Law Teachers’ Charter, is to be ideologically neutral school.

– It’s easy to imagine a situation in which the declaration, which at the moment we are talking, their declarations will want to have representatives of other faiths, who are also teachers and work in Polish schools. At the end of this road can be quite considerable, serious religious war, in which children will be implicated. Completely can not imagine such a situation. I will do everything to Polish schools worldview neutrality was preserved – declared Mucha.

also warned that if the teacher will sign the declaration and will teach in accordance with the provisions of the latter, it should take into account the reaction of the director schools, the authority conducting and governor. – It breaks the constitution, which says that all citizens have the same rights and obligations, regardless of religion and belief and violates the provisions of the Charter of the Teacher – she added.

mr, PAP