Is Poland a Catholic country?

For centuries Poland was considered to be one of the most Catholic countries in the world as the conservative polish society was faithful to traditional values. Adding up the Polish Pope John Paul II that reign in the Vatican for 27 years, we had a full picture of Pole-Catholic stereotype.  

That’s why so many people in western countries still think that the average Poles goes to the mess every day and lead a godly life full of love for brothers and sisters.

Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad after all but it has nothing to do with reality. Currently around 86 percent Poles state they’re Catholic. Half of them (around 40%) go to weekly mass, a number that drops down to as low as 20% in some regions in west Poland.

The truth is that when it comes to the belief, Poles are very complicated. It’s true that most of us were raised in Catholic families and we went to the church every Sunday as kinds. But as the time goes by it all changes. Nowadays, especially in bigger cities, young people may state that they are Catholic (but most of them claim to be atheists), but rarely any of them goes to the mess more often than once or twice a year.

The fact that we’re a Catholic country doesn’t really influence our day-to-day life. It’s true we all had religion classes at school. I had a great priest as a teacher in high school and during that classes we always discussed all the brand-new gossips, latest Game of Thrones episodes and play games, but also get answers for some fundamental for teenagers questions (like Can I marry my cousin that I’m in love with?).

Young people definitely prefer typical modern western lifestyle in the spirit of consumption and hypocrisy. Like all people in western countries we live fast, die young and take care only of ourselves. We don’t like being told what to do and how to behave and we definitely want the church to interfere in neither ongoing politics nor our private life. Many Poles are outrage the priests living beyond its means, let alone all the gossips about children out of wedlock, sex scandals and pedophilia that shredded its reputation. 

All in all, Catholic Church still holds a prominent and powerful place in a society in which many people still regard Catholicism as an essential aspect of being Polish. However, most of them are strongly motivated by an attachment to tradition and a culture given to them by their families. Unfortunately the everyday life is far from perfect – being one of the most Catholic nations we’re still intolerant, rude, xenophobic and against helping immigrants.

The fun fact at the end. Unlike many European countries, Poland doesn't have a church tax. When Poles migrate to countries that have them, they'll sometimes claim to not be members of the church to get out of paying that tax. In Poland, to provide for the church, money is collected by the priests on every single mess.