Poland prepares for mass protests as Catholic Church increases influence
By Tom Mendelsohn, International Business Times
Cities across Poland are bracing themselves for mass demonstrations against the country’s right-wing government, after its prime minister admitted she favoured a total ban on abortion, even in the instance of rape or incest.
Roman Catholic churches in the country are also participating in a campaign against the procedure, with priests reading a letter from a bishops’ conference that calls for the last of Poland’s already strictly limited abortion rights to be removed. Pro-choice campaigners say this is part of a concerted build-up to introducing legislation in the country’s parliament.
Speaking to public radio earlier in the week, Szydło was asked about whether the issue would reach parliament. She said: “Every MP will vote in line with their own conscience. At the moment I can not talk about the bill, because this bill does not yet exist. As for my opinion, yes, I support this initiative.”
Tak dla Kobiet, a pro-choice pressure group, is helping organise protests in at least 15 Polish cities, and has said it expects more than 10,000 people to show up at the Sejm, the parliament building in Warsaw. It claims “people are outraged” that the Catholic Church seems to be launching a fresh grab for influence…
…The bishops’ letter, which was released on Wednesday, describes the current law as “a compromise”, saying: “The life of every person is protected by the fifth of the Ten Commandments: thou shalt not kill. Therefore the position of Catholics in this regard is clear and unchanging.”
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