Church becoming more passive in relation to EU referendum

Despite widespread expectations that the Catholic Church would prepare a statement about the EU referendum, it has declined to do so, but it will encourage citizens to vote. "The opinion of the Polish Episcopate is widely known and due to this there is no need to write a another document on this issue," said primate Józef Glemp. Archbishop Henryk Muszyński added that participation in the referendum is a double duty in terms of Christianity and being a citizen. Political structures are of no importance for the Church, but the fact that by joining the EU Poland will have the possibility of easier contacts with other people of the same religion. The neutral statement of the Catholic Church about the EU will be included in the documents of the Episcopate Conference which will be sent to all churches, but whether it will be read aloud depends on the individual decisions of priests. (Rzeczpospolita, May, 2-4, pp. A1, A3) M.M.