Karol Darmoros
“This day confronts us with the truth that sexual violence exists in our society and affects many people, including those in the Church community,” said the Primate of Poland, Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Metropolitan of Gniezno.
Standing with the Abused
Archbishop Wojciech Polak recalled that the Day of Prayer and Solidarity is being celebrated in the Church in Poland for the tenth time, and this initiative was started by Pope Francis. As the Primate of Poland pointed out, the essence of this day is an attitude of presence and closeness to those wounded by sexual abuse.
Archbishop Polak recalled a message received from an abused person, thanking the Church for its approach to accompanying the wounded. “We do not ask abused persons for testimonies, but we want to be present with them – quietly, gently, with respect for the subtle boundaries that no one should cross,” said the Metropolitan of Gniezno.
The Primate of Poland also noted that questioning the harm leads to its deepening. “Our role is not to doubt, but primarily to accompany, to create safe spaces where abused persons will be able to reveal their harm and also receive professional help,” assured Archbishop Wojciech Polak, who is also the delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the protection of children and youth.
Referring to journalists’ questions, the Primate of Poland also confirmed that the KEP (Polish Bishops’ Conference) has decided to establish a nationwide commission for sexual abuse in the Church, and work is currently underway on its structure and mode of operation.
Help and Concrete Support
Magdalena Bogdan, president of the St. Joseph Foundation of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, spoke about real help for abused persons. She emphasized that since 2019, the foundation has supported sexually abused persons, and last year alone, approximately PLN 2.5 million was allocated for assistance. These funds include, among others, psychological, psychotherapeutic, and psychiatric support, financing of medicines, legal aid, and educational scholarships.
As she pointed out, the second pillar of the foundation’s activity is preventing further harm through training, educational activities, and supporting the child and youth protection system. “The Day of Prayer and Solidarity reminds us of such a constant commitment to persons harmed by sexual abuse. And this is a daily practice of listening, reacting, and acquiring knowledge,” said Magdalena Bogdan.
Prayer in Parishes and Communities
Father Wojciech Rzeszowski, head of the Office of the Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the protection of children and youth, noted that the Day of Prayer and Solidarity is not meant to be merely a central event, but an initiative also present in parishes and local communities. He announced that prepared prayer materials – including the Way of the Cross, the prayer of the faithful, and adoration – are available for dioceses and religious communities, among others, on the KEP websites. Furthermore, on February 19, the Jasna Góra Appeal in Częstochowa will be led by those accompanying the wounded.
Way of the Cross
The author of this year’s Way of the Cross meditations, Sister Scholastyka Iwańska, an Albertine sister, said that the texts were based on the experience of accompanying abused persons and their loved ones. She emphasized that “every story of an abused person is different” and cannot be fitted into a single scheme. The Albertine sister also noted that accompaniment means readiness to be present, even when the wounded person needs distance. “The most important thing is to be on this path,” she assured.
Sexual Aggression in Cyberspace
Rafał Lange, head of research on the protection of minors at the Institute of Catholic Church Statistics SAC, drew attention to the growing scale of sexual violence on the internet. As he informed, according to NASK estimates, about 70% of victims of sexual aggression in cyberspace do not report the harm they experienced to anyone. The data also shows that one in four girls in primary or secondary school in Poland has experienced this form of violence, most often from peers or people met online. This phenomenon affects increasingly younger people.
