Ks. Adam SzotAfter the Second Word War the Church in Poland had to perform its pastoral
duties in a new political situation. The communist authorities limited the
role of the Church and religion in the life of socialist society. Despite the 1950
agreement between the government and the Church that was to guarantee
the freedom of religious observances, the situation of the Church worsened.
Religious instruction was eliminated from schools.
After 1956 the situation changed. The Church gained more freedom and
religious education was introduced again. The Church was to solve the problem
of providing religious instruction in all schools. However, communist
authorities were not idle and made efforts to expel religion from education programmes
again. In newly established schools run by the Society of Children’s
Friends religious instruction was forbidden. Members of religious orders were
not allowed to teach. At the beginning of the school year 1960/61 religion was
ultimately eliminated from school programmes. The Church had to organize
religious instruction in parishes and religious education rooms.Archiwum Archidiecezjalne w Białymstoku920823
