"Poland's powerful Catholic Church has declared war on "gender theory", saying it undermines the traditional family ... The theory explores sexual orientation and the roles assigned by society to individuals based on their gender, but the Polish Church has borrowed the English word "gender" to refer to a range of issues including contraception, abortion and homosexuality.
While many say gender theory promotes tolerance and understanding towards gender equality and homosexuality, the Polish Church has branded it a mortal danger to families, child sexual orientation and humanity. Polish bishops wrote a letter on the topic that was read out in every parish across the country over the Christmas holidays. "This is a preventative offensive," sociologist Edmund Wnuk-Lipinski told AFP. "The Church fears social change and it especially opposes gay marriage, something that's happening in other countries like France or certain states in the US."
Inspired by then pope Benedict XVI's remarks in late 2012 about the "falseness" of gender theory, the Polish campaign has taken on epic proportions and sparked a fierce, high-profile national debate. The Church letter to parishioners alleges that gender theory has "for the last several months been introduced without Poles' consent within various social institutions: education, health care, non-governmental organisations and cultural institutions".
The bishops cite Marxism, feminist movements and the sexual revolution as having inspired the theory, which they say is "contrary to the traditional view of man". They warn that gender theory allows an individual to "freely define himself as a man or woman and choose his sexual orientation". The Church views the traditional definition of family headed by a man and a woman as the basis of society... Among the more extreme examples of the scorn heaped on gender theory, priest Dariusz Oko said: "Gender ideology is in some ways worse than Nazism and communism." "It leads to the destruction of the nation" because it "destroys the family," he said. This view has been echoed by Poland's political right, with a minor opposition party recently launching a committee against gender theory in parliament. Committee members have assigned themselves the task of "protecting nursery school children against a sexualisation (introduced) under the guise of classes on gender equality" that were co-funded by the European Union and other international organisations. Following warnings from Polish bishops and right-wing politicians, parents in many schools across the country have demanded that such classes be banned."
While many say gender theory promotes tolerance and understanding towards gender equality and homosexuality, the Polish Church has branded it a mortal danger to families, child sexual orientation and humanity. Polish bishops wrote a letter on the topic that was read out in every parish across the country over the Christmas holidays. "This is a preventative offensive," sociologist Edmund Wnuk-Lipinski told AFP. "The Church fears social change and it especially opposes gay marriage, something that's happening in other countries like France or certain states in the US."
Inspired by then pope Benedict XVI's remarks in late 2012 about the "falseness" of gender theory, the Polish campaign has taken on epic proportions and sparked a fierce, high-profile national debate. The Church letter to parishioners alleges that gender theory has "for the last several months been introduced without Poles' consent within various social institutions: education, health care, non-governmental organisations and cultural institutions".
The bishops cite Marxism, feminist movements and the sexual revolution as having inspired the theory, which they say is "contrary to the traditional view of man". They warn that gender theory allows an individual to "freely define himself as a man or woman and choose his sexual orientation". The Church views the traditional definition of family headed by a man and a woman as the basis of society... Among the more extreme examples of the scorn heaped on gender theory, priest Dariusz Oko said: "Gender ideology is in some ways worse than Nazism and communism." "It leads to the destruction of the nation" because it "destroys the family," he said. This view has been echoed by Poland's political right, with a minor opposition party recently launching a committee against gender theory in parliament. Committee members have assigned themselves the task of "protecting nursery school children against a sexualisation (introduced) under the guise of classes on gender equality" that were co-funded by the European Union and other international organisations. Following warnings from Polish bishops and right-wing politicians, parents in many schools across the country have demanded that such classes be banned."