Church's Moral Authority Crumbles: Over Half of Poles Express Skepticism and Distrust
The Polish Catholic Church is facing a crisis of trust, with only one third of traditionally Catholic Poles expressing faith in the institution. According to a poll by the Polish Institute for Market and Social Research Foundation (IBRiS), the total percentage of people who declare trust in the Catholic Church has plummeted by over 22%, from 58% in September 2016 to 35.1% in September 2025.
The most alarming change occurred within one year, with the trust index falling by 4%, while the percentage of those who say they 'strongly distrust' the church increasing by 4.8%. This decline in trust is a significant shift for a country where the Catholic Church has traditionally held a powerful position.
Robert Fidura, a clergy sex abuse victim and advocate, believes that the church's use of 'pompous, church-like language' and lack of communication are factors affecting trust in the Catholic Church in Poland. He suggests adding 'communications' to Krzyżak's list of factors, who is a prominent figure in the church and often emphasizes the importance of a good shepherd smelling the scent of his sheep, but many Polish hierarchs do not attempt to get close to their congregation.
Fidura also criticizes the church's recent decisions, which he believes have effectively dismantled the independent commission and the St. Joseph Foundation. Marta Titaniec, president of St. Joseph Foundation, announced she would not run for another term, citing a lack of understanding for the foundation's activities among some bishops.
The church has taken up many reforms in the past five years, including initiating the St. Joseph Foundation in 2019 and setting up the Office of Delegate of Child Protection of the Polish bishops' conference led by Archbishop Wojciech Polak of Gniezno. However, the church has not issued a national report on the scope of abuse, which the investigating commission is expected to work on.
The only bishop to date to comment publicly on the results of the survey is Bishop Artur Ważny of Sosnowiec, who cited the Book of Ezekiel in his social media post, quoting: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds pasture the flock?'
The identity of the person who leads the investigation commission for clarifying abuses in the Catholic Church in Poland remains unknown. The search results do not provide information about this individual. Archbishop Polak, an outspoken advocate of survivors of abuse, was dismissed by the country's bishops from his role as a leader of the team of experts preparing the ground for the commission in June.
The decline in trust in the Catholic Church in Poland began after the death of St. John Paul II in 2005, according to Fidura, who believes the church entered a 'black hole' period during this time. The church's handling of the abuse crisis, as well as its perceived lack of transparency and accountability, have contributed to this decline in trust.
Paulina Guzik, the international editor for the website this article was published on, notes that the level of distrust has almost doubled over the past period, skyrocketing from 24.2% to 47.1%. The church faces a significant challenge in regaining the trust of the Polish people and addressing the issues that have led to this decline in faith.
