THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TOWARDS THE 1991 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
IN POLAND
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starszy wykładowca w Instytucie Nauk
Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Publication date: 2020-01-24
Studia Politologiczne 2011;22
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ABSTRACT
The Catholic Church has been actively and directly involved in the 1991 election
campaign. The Polish Episcopate’s statements on the elections were of a pastoral
character. The Church’s official position during the election campaign was neutral.
Off the records, it supported five Christian-oriented electoral committees. Many
priests, during Sunday services, urged people to vote for these committees even
on the day of the elections. The bishops of the Catholic Church were trying to
shape the Catholic’s electoral preferences and to influence their electoral behaviour.
Social studies carried out after the parliamentary elections showed that c.a. 12%
of the respondents voted according to the Catholic Clergy’s recommendations.