It is not without reason that Pope Wojtyla once stated that the Church cannot allow any ideology or political current to take away the “banner of justice”, which is one of the basic requirements of the Gospel and is the core of its social doctrine. (…)
John Paul II renewed humanitarian principles as ideals belonging to Christianity, which for a long time seemed to be the exclusive achievement of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. In this way, the rights of the human person, which have once again become an integral part of Christian teaching, have found their ethical basis, ensuring their indivisibility and universality. Therefore, the Holy Father did not have the slightest intention of putting up barriers to the world again. On the contrary, he wanted to serve man and support him in elementary rights, beginning with the right to life.
It is impossible not to mention here one of the less understandable, but strongly discussed and criticized aspects of the pontificate of John Paul II. It is to perceive the Church, acting in society, at the service of the common good, as it can be an essential element of social renewal. This is due to its mission, to applying the Gospel into life. Therefore, it is bearing witness to the message of Christ, not in order to “conquer” society, to subjugate it, blurring the already established differences between the role of the Church and the role of the State.
I would like to remind you that virtually all systems, not just totalitarian ones, have always tried to eliminate religion, or at least reduce it to a presence “in the sacristy”, or to use it for political purposes. (…) John Paul II opposed all this. He said …”no!” He went out into the streets, into the squares, so as not to give this space to others.
The Church is present where man is. It tries to accompany man and society on the journey, but always on the moral level. It must not be directly involved in politics!
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
