In Poland there is simply a discussion on the financing of the Church from the state budget. The Left proposed the liquidation of the Church Fund, which was established in 1950 as a form of compensation to the Church for property taken over by the state during the period of the Polish People's Republic. The Church Fund is financed by the state budget and serves to pay social and wellness contributions to clergymen.
In 2023 the budget of the Church Fund amounted to about PLN 216 million, and in 2024 this amount may increase. The thought of eliminating the Church Fund has sparked strong reactions among politicians and clergymen. Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, believes that the state should not finance contributions to the Social safety Office for clergy. Instead, clergymen themselves should pay 50% of the contribution, and the remainder would be covered by the spiritual community.
The Levite's proposal met with mixed reception among the coalitions. The PSL is skeptical of the thought and the Civic Platform has divided sentences. The Confederation proposes another solution, i.e. the introduction of a voluntary copy of 1.5% from the PIT for the Church, as for non-governmental organisations. PiS powerfully criticizes the thought of the Left, claiming that the liquidation of the Church Fund could affect the amount of clergy pensions and lead to conflict with the Vatican.
In Poland, the Church receives about PLN 250 million annually from the state budget. The Church Fund is the largest origin of income of the Church in Poland. The clergy are exempt from paying contributions to the Social safety Office, which means that the State must pay these costs. The Left believes that this is unfair due to the fact that the clergy should pay their contributions themselves, just as any another citizen.
Opponents of the liquidation of the Church Fund claim that this is an historical form of compensation for the property taken over by the state during the period of the Polish People's Republic. Supporters of the liquidation of the Church Fund believe that clergymen should pay their contributions themselves, as do any another citizen. On this point, however, there is no agreement among politicians and clergymen.
Figures show that the Church Fund is increasingly costly for the state. In 2020, the budget of the Fund amounted to about PLN 193 million, in 2021 – around PLN 205 million, and in 2022 – around PLN 216 million. The Left believes that this money could be better utilized for another purposes, specified as education, healthcare or social assistance.
However, there is no consensus among politicians and clergymen on this matter. The SS believes that the liquidation of the Church Fund could affect the amount of clergy pensions and lead to a conflict with the Vatican. The Left considers this to be an unreasonable argument, as clergymen should pay their contributions themselves, just as any another citizen.
Google besides has an opinion on this. Search results show that backing the Church is 1 of the most interesting topics in Poland. Users are looking for information on the Church Fund, contributions to the Social safety Office and clergy pensions. The discussion on the Church's financing is very lively, and the Left and the Law and the Law have the most to say on this issue.
In this case, SEO standards are very important. Optimising websites for Google search is crucial for getting good search results. Key words, specified as Church Financing, the Church Fund and contributions to the Social safety Office, are most crucial in this matter. The content of the article should be reliable and up-to-date and the figures should be accurate. In this case, Left and Law and Law and Justice have the most to say, and Google besides has its opinion.
Continued here:
Funding the Church: Is the End of the Church Fund?
