Our reader drew attention to the large number of crosses in secular institutions. In his view, this constitutes symbolic violence.
I thought I lived in a state that was neutral in matters of worldview and that faith was a private matter for every citizen. Meanwhile, in offices, schools and public facilities, a crucified Jew looks down at me. In countries such as England, Spain, Sweden and Norway, the matter is straightforward and has a name. It is nothing other than symbolic violence. The situation is different in regimes such as Turkey, Russia and Arab countries. There, beloved leaders hang on the walls. I wonder what this ridiculous religious folklore is for. What are we aspiring to?
After receiving our reader’s letter, we decided to check how many crosses are actually hanging in the two main local-government institutions and whether there really are so many. It turns out that a total of 22 crosses are displayed in the city office and the district office.
As spokesperson Agnieszka Gergont reports, there are eight crosses in the Bolesławiec City Office:
In the Town Hall, in rooms 115, 102 and 301, the Councillors’ Hall and a councillor’s office. In the office building, in the economic and administrative team, room 111 and the porter’s lodge. The presence of a cross in the office of the President of Bolesławiec does not violate the requirement of religious and worldview neutrality. In Poland, there is no obligation to conceal one’s own views and religious beliefs.
Agnieszka Gergont
In turn, data provided by county secretary Sylwia Chruszcz indicate that a total of 14 crosses hang in the District Office buildings.
The crosses hang in the District Office building at Armii Krajowej Street, in rooms numbered 10A, 11, 12, 202, 216, 222, 301, 314 and 316, and in the building at Piłsudskiego Square, in rooms 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20. The presence of crosses in the office does not violate the principle of religious impartiality; it constitutes the exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right to publicly manifest one’s religion (Article 53(2) of the Constitution), obliging public authorities to ensure freedom to express religious beliefs in public life. Moreover, the cross hanging in the conference room of the District Office, apart from its religious symbolism, also represents a symbol of Polish culture and national identity.
Sylwia Chruszcz
In the further part of his letter, the reader points out that in highly developed countries, which people aspire to join, religiosity is not displayed in public places in this way.
Religiosity is displayed only in regimes or fundamentalist countries. Besides, what would happen if one of the city or county officials changed their faith to Islam and hung a crescent in their office and on the door? Would everyone then also talk about the right to publicly manifest religion and have no objection?
What is your opinion on the presence of various religious symbols—not only crosses—in public space?