Warsaw, Poland, Feb 1, 2007 / 08:41 am
A group of Polish politicians have joined with Radio María to present new legislation to protect priests from false accusations and slander. Under the proposed law, priests in Poland would have the same judicial protection provided to other public officials, thus maintaining their good name and reputation before any groundless slander or defamation.
The proposal seeks to legally protect priests who have been defamed or slandered by the media by requiring public prosecutors to open investigations and to administer appropriate punishment to those who make groundless attacks.
If the initiative passes, Polish priests will enjoy the same privileges enjoyed by government representatives, senators, judges, as well as, high ranking business and public personalities.
The initiative has been applauded by the League of the Polish Families, which forms part of the governmental coalition.
Currently, the Catholic Church in Poland has created historical and legal commissions in forty-four diocese to study documents and files of the former communist police and the secret service, to determine which priests collaborated with the former communist regime.