A/HRC/43/50/Add.3
supported by any concrete evidence. It is very difficult to address such generalized issues,
which are not confirmed by any facts, as it limits the scope of discussion.
57.
The most important regulations concerning the legal status of religious associations
are contained in Article 25 and Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland contains regulations concerning the
legal situation of religious associations and their relations with the State, specifying the
principles: equality of rights of religious associations; impartiality of public authorities in
matters of religious, philosophical beliefs and ensuring freedom of expression in public life;
respect for the autonomy and mutual independence of the State and churches and other
religious associations; cooperation between the State and churches and other religious
associations for the benefit of a human being and the common interest and regulation of
relations between the State and churches and other religious associations through bilateral
agreements. These principles are respected by the Republic of Poland.
58.
In particular, it should be emphasized that respect for all faiths is materialized in the
cooperation of the state and churches and other religious associations for the benefit of a
human being and the common interest. It manifests itself in the creation and functioning of
permanent forms of dialogue, the purpose of which is, among other things, to consider
problems related to the development of relations between the State and churches and other
religious associations. Since 2015, the Joint Commission of Representatives of the
Government of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Bishops' Conference, the Joint Team
of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Holy Council of
Bishops and the Joint Commission of Representatives of the Government of the Republic of
Poland and the Polish Ecumenical Council held their meeting. The Polish Ecumenical
Council is composed of ordinary members: Baptist Christian Church in the Republic of
Poland; Evangelical-Augsburg Church in the Republic of Poland; Evangelical-Methodist
Church in the Republic of Poland; Evangelical-Reformed Church in the Republic of Poland;
Polish-Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland; Old Catholic Mariavite Church in the
Republic of Poland and Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
59.
The state supports the activities of various faiths by participating in the protection,
conservation, making available and dissemination of architectural monuments, art and
religious literature, which are an integral part of cultural heritage. For this purpose, legal
entities of churches and other religious associations may obtain, among other things, grants
from the Church Fund, operating on the basis of the Act of 20 March 1950 on taking by the
State of the mortmain estate “pol. dobra martwej ręki”, the guarantee of pastors to own farms
and the establishment of the Church Fund, which is a separate item in part 43 of the State
budget - religious denominations and national and ethnic minorities.
60.
The Church Fund provides benefits such as to support the church's charitable and
caring activities, as well as for repairs, conservation and reconstruction of historic sacral
buildings. Since 2016, the beneficiaries of grants from the Church Fund were, among others,
legal entities of the Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland, the Polish Autocephalous
Orthodox Church, the Old Catholic Mariavite Church in the Republic of Poland, the
Evangelical-Augsburg Church in the Republic of Poland (in 2016-2017- approx. PLN 26.5
million were disposed for this purpose).
61.
Constitution of the Republic of Poland in Article 48 states that parents have the right
to raise their children in accordance with their own convictions. This upbringing should take
into account the child's degree of maturity, as well as his or her freedom of conscience or
religion and belief. Article 53 provides that freedom of religion includes the freedom to
profess or accept a religion of one's own choice.
62.
Teaching of religion is also regulated by the following acts: the Act on the Education
System of 7 September 1991, the Ordinance of the Minister of National Education on the
Conditions and Methods of Organizing Religious Lessons in Public Preschools and Schools
of 14 April 1992 together with further amendments and the agreement between the Minister
of National Education and the Polish Bishops' Conference on the Qualification of Religious
Teachers of 6 September 2000.
63.
Teaching religion at schools may be carried out by Churches and religious
associations registered in Poland. They do so under Article 53 (4) of the Constitution of the
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