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  • Title: The church's heavy hand in Poland.
    Author: Kissling F.
    Journal: Conscience; 1991; 12(5):20-1. PubMed ID: 12178848.
    Abstract:
    Following the defeat of communism, Poland has witnessed an erosion in the separation between state and church, as the Roman Catholic church has begun using its immense political power to press for social legislation -- one that includes a ban on abortion and contraception. The Catholic church has already succeeded in obtaining government support of religious education (in fact, it has become the only instruction available), and in tightening divorce laws. Most of the church initiatives affect women disproportionately. As a solution for the country's unemployment, bishops suggested taking jobs from women and giving them to men. Moreover, the church's most vehement campaign has centered on family planning and abortion. Bishops have begun a campaign designed to eventually ban contraception and abortion. Despite the fact that 60% of all Poles approve of the law permitting abortion, the church successfully lobbied the Ministry of Health to impose measures requiring a woman seeking an abortion to obtain the approval of 2 gynecologists, her family doctor, and a church approved psychologist. At least 3 women have already died from self-induced abortions following the enactment of the regulations. The church has also succeeded in getting the government to stop subsidizing birth control pills. with consent from Pope John Paul II, Catholic pharmacists in Poland have refused to sell contraceptives. These measures ignore the well-known fact that contraception is the best, least coercive way to reduce the number of abortions. It appears, however, that the bishops' heavy hand has led to a decline in public support for the church.
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