Bishops criticize charity draft bill as discriminating against the Church

The Permanent Council of the Polish Episcopacy has criticized the draft bill on charitable activities as discriminatory against the Church. According to secretary to the Polish Episcopacy, Bishop Piotr Libera, the Church is not treated on the same level as other non-governmental organizations. He points out that Church organizations engaged in charitable activities are not entitled to certain privileges provided under the bill. For example, from 2004 the law allows citizens to set aside 1% of their tax payments as a contribution to a charity, but not to a Church organizations such as Caritas. The bishops are seeking a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Government and Episcopacy (KWRE) to discuss the issue. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) M.T.