Rafał Trzaskowski issued a statement on the new rules applying in offices.
– Everyone has the right to their own faith (or lack thereof). This also applies to male and female officials. And everyone who comes to an office to handle their affairs has the right to feel as though they are in a neutral office. Quite simply – Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski wrote. – Let’s not go crazy. No one intends to wage a fight against any religion in Warsaw. The capital will always respect its traditions as well – hence religious elements, for example, during commemorations of the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. But Poland is a secular state. And Warsaw is the capital of that state. Period – the mayor added. At the end, he quoted the Act on Guarantees of Freedom of Conscience and Religion: "The Republic of Poland is a secular state, neutral in matters of religion and belief".
Moreover, as Gazeta Wyborcza reports, “all events organized by the office are to be secular in nature – without prayer, religious services or blessing”.
We wrote about crosses depicting the body of a man, that is, a violent symbol of Christianity, four years ago in an article: More Crosses in Bolesławiec Offices Than in More Than One Church. At the time, officials told us that 22 crosses hung in the two Bolesławiec offices. In the poll at the time, 62% of people did not support religious symbols in public places. What is your opinion on this today?
Czy symbole religijne powinny pozostać w instytucjach?
Asked for comment on the matter, Bolesławiec County Head Tomasz Gabrysiak stated that he was not familiar with the matter and had not followed decisions made by Warsaw’s local government, and that he would be able to comment once he had reviewed it.
Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman told us that, at this point, apart from the general description, he was not familiar with the order, did not know the position of the legal oversight authorities and therefore did not know to what extent it complied with the law. Mayor Roman also stated that, so far, only Warsaw had decided to take such action, and that it was necessary to see what other major cities would do before considering the matter.
Under the Constitution of Poland, which is a secular state, public institutions should remain neutral in matters of worldview, meaning that they should not promote or favor any religion. Mayor Trzaskowski’s order reflects the principle of neutrality in matters of worldview and aims to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, are treated equally in public spaces. The changes introduced also aim to counteract discrimination and promote equal treatment for all city residents. The decision has sparked a debate about the role of religious symbols in public spaces, emphasizing the importance of respecting diversity and the individual rights of citizens to express their own beliefs.