Support for Church Activities in Poland Prompts State Scrutiny
In Poland, actions by church groups aimed at helping communities are being defended as worthy of support, said Szymon Hołownia, the Marshal of the Sejm, during a Saturday event in Poznań. Recently, he issued an order directing the President of the Supreme Audit Office to examine the financial flows between the state and religious organizations. While defending the Dominican sisters’ initiatives, Hołownia, leader of the Poland 2050 party, criticized Father Tadeusz Rydzyk’s media empire, arguing that it benefits from state funds.
During a pre-election gathering with Third Way supporters, Hołownia highlighted the Broniszewice Boys’ Home in Greater Poland Voivodeship, operated by the Dominican Sisters, as a project deserving targeted state attention. The home serves boys with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.
On Friday, the sisters urged the government not to sidestep the costs associated with running and maintaining a residential facility for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
Supreme Audit Office
Hołownia emphasized his plan to push a broad audit that will map out how funds move between the state and religious bodies, with a particular focus on the Catholic Church. He suggested that unveiling these financial patterns could reveal amounts spent on activities tied to Father Rydzyk and his media network. He stated that a cross-cutting audit by the Supreme Audit Office would be informative, and that it should examine whether substantial sums were allocated to so-called party propaganda.
Hołownia questioned how many millions have gone toward building a media platform for a figure seen as supportive of the governing bloc, instead of funding genuine services that help citizens. He asserted that Poland already has activities that truly serve people, including the work carried out by the Church, and that such efforts deserve ongoing support.
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Withdrawal of Support for the Broniszewice Home
Hołownia acknowledged reading a message from the Broniszewice sisters on social media, where they claimed the state had redirected one million zlotys from the Boys’ Home this year. They called for the government to scrutinize what is collected and spent on facilities like theirs, urging that the state not shield itself from covering these running costs. They pointed to a pattern of funds: last year 600 thousand, this year 1 million, and pressed for continued state involvement in financing homes for people with disabilities and chronic diseases.
The Dominican sisters stressed that their work centers on caring for ill and disabled children, and that donors have played a critical role in sustaining these programs. They noted there has never been a formal fundraising channel dedicated to the Broniszewice Home or the Girls’ Home in Mielżyn, and they emphasized that financial challenges must be met through private giving and church support rather than state funds alone.
They affirmed their mission to stand with families at the bedside of sick or disabled children, even as financial pressures pressure these communities. They expressed pride in the donors whose contributions have made a difference and highlighted the lack of a regular public fundraising mechanism for their facilities.
The Chairman’s Pledge
During a Poznań meeting, Hołownia said he heard the voices of the Broniszewice sisters and promised to do everything possible, asking regional authorities and colleagues in government to help identify the causes of funding gaps and ensure that institutions like the Broniszewice facility, run by Dominican nuns, do not risk losing financial support from the state.
He stressed that the state should provide funds to such institutions when they help the most vulnerable, and that this is done with a practical understanding of the needs involved. Hołownia insisted that the Third Way stands for pragmatism, not ideological battles or inventing enemies.
On the issue of financial flows between the state and churches, he framed it as proof of the party’s pragmatic approach. He argued that the problem exists in several places, mentioning Toruń and Broniszewice, and suggested acting to resolve the Toruń issue so Broniszewice can secure its future without worrying about funding. He reiterated that he could not solve everything as Chairman of the Sejm, but would do what he could and would stand firm in his own stance.
He also referenced criticism aimed at Radio Maryja and Telewizja Trwam as part of a broader political confrontation.
Source commentary and related coverage accompany this report as context and reaction to events surrounding Hołownia’s statements.