WARSAW, Poland (LifeSiteNews) — Poland’s Catholic bishops have expressed concern that recent court decisions on foreign same-sex “marriage” certificates could affect the country’s constitutional definition of marriage.
On May 22, the Council for the Family of the Polish Bishops’ Conference issued a statement warning that recent administrative court judgments concerning the transcription of foreign marriage certificates involving same-sex couples may have implications for the constitutional understanding of marriage in Poland. The statement, signed by Wiesław Śmigiel, bishop of Szczecin-Kamień and chairman of the council, called on lawmakers, legal experts, and citizens to safeguard what the bishops described as the constitutional and moral foundations of the Republic of Poland.
“In connection with the recent judgments of the administrative courts concerning the transcription of foreign marriage certificates of same-sex couples, we note with concern and apprehension further actions and legal interpretations relating to the understanding of marriage,” the statement said.
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According to the bishops, the court rulings have prompted renewed discussion about the legal recognition of same-sex unions in Poland. The council stated that the issue concerns “one of the core foundations of social and family life in Poland” and argued that certain legal interpretations raise questions about the limits of judicial interpretation and adherence to the country’s constitutional framework.
The statement repeatedly cited Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which defines marriage as a union between a woman and a man and places it under the “protection and care of the State.” The bishops said this constitutional provision reflects a “particular understanding of the human person, family life and responsibility toward future generations.”
The council also referred to Article 8 of the Constitution, which establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic of Poland. While acknowledging that Article 91 grants precedence to certain ratified international agreements over ordinary statutes in specified circumstances, the bishops maintained that such provisions do not override the constitutional definition of marriage contained in Article 18.
The statement expressed concern about what it described as emerging legal interpretations that seek to assign a new meaning to Article 18. The bishops argued that questions of such significance should not be settled through expansive interpretations of the law, particularly when they concern institutions deeply rooted in Poland’s legal order, cultural traditions, and social life.
In explaining their position, the bishops also referred to Catholic teaching on marriage. They stated that Christians view marriage not only as a legal institution but also as “a reality rooted in natural law and in God’s revealed plan for the human person.”
The statement quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which describes marriage as a “permanent union between a woman and a man, founded upon the mutual gift of love, open to the transmission of life and to the building of the family community.”
The council further cited John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Familiaris consortio, noting his teaching that the future of humanity passes through the family and that the protection of marriage is a fundamental responsibility of society and the state.
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At the same time, the statement emphasized that the defense of marriage as a union between a man and a woman is not directed against any individual.
“In defending marriage understood as the union of a woman and a man, we do not seek to act against anyone or to deprive anyone of dignity. Rather, we seek to remain faithful to a vision of the human person and the family which for centuries has constituted the foundation of the Christian understanding of love, parenthood, and social responsibility…. Respect for every person does not require the abandonment of the truth concerning marriage that the Church has proclaimed from the beginning,” the statement reads.
The bishops concluded with an appeal to “all people of good will” to take responsibility for the law, the future of the Polish family, and the preservation of the constitutional order. The bishops argued that any public discussion regarding marriage should be conducted with care and with attention to the common good.