SLD brews temple trouble

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) announced that it will submit a motion to the Constitutional Tribunal to check if the 2006 budget has breached the Constitution. The reason is the government's plan to give zł.20 million towards the construction of the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw. "The principle that all churches are equal is clearly breached here, because supporting one church is clearly showing favoritism to it," said Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, one of SLD's top officials.

SLD's party whip Jerzy Szmajdziński supports this view and says the donation is against the constitutional values of equality of all churches and religious organizations, the neutrality of the state with regards to religious and philosophical issues, and independence of the state and religious organizations. "Financing a religious building is a clear support of the Catholic Church and three million Poles do not belong to that church. This group also deserves respect and attention," Szymanek-Deresz added.

SLD's motion was criticized by ruling Law and Justice officials who said that SLD is treating the tradition of the Polish state with disregard.