Christian social ethics in Poland: Current status and its socio-historical determinants

Abstract

The current status and social influence of Christian social ethics (CSE) in Poland has been shaped by the socio-historical context and by contemporary secularization processes. CSE is an element of the academic landscape at state and church universities. There are two ways of practicing and propagating it: theological and interdisciplinary. The former is oriented towards explaining and promoting the social teaching of the hierarchical Church and towards forming the faithful in its spirit; the latter is oriented towards the empirical exploration and ethical evaluation of current social phenomena in cooperation with other scientific disciplines. Nowadays this concerns energy transformation, social dialogue, and sustainable development. Research results are published in a considerable number of specialist and theological journals issued in Poland. CSE has a rather indirect influence on Polish society, contributing to the shape of its axiological and cultural system. Legal regulations and political solutions inspired by CSE are initiated by socially and politically committed citizens.