Poznań court verdict on cathedral protest
A Poznań district court in Nowe Miasto and Wilda delivered a verdict that acquitted more than thirty suspects in connection with a protest that interrupted Holy Mass at Poznań Cathedral following a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal. The case concerns a group of over 30 opposition activists who entered the cathedral in October 2020, carrying banners about abortion rights and standing before the altar to express opposition to the tribunal’s decision. All those involved were cleared of charges, with the court finding their actions not to be malicious.
Further reading: Coverage on the Poznań incident during Holy Mass and a separate report about people waiting in line at the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Warsaw
Additional notes: Reports mention the start of the SK supporters trial over cathedral protests in Poznań, stating that 32 individuals were named as defendants
The verdict from the Poznań District Court covering Nowe Miasto and Wilda is not a final ruling. It addresses events from October 2020, when the Constitutional Tribunal determined that a provision allowing abortion in a high risk or severe fetal condition scenario is incompatible with the Polish Constitution. Following the ruling, demonstrations against the tribunal took place in multiple Polish cities.
Provocation inside the cathedral
A few days after the tribunal’s verdict, during a Eucharistic celebration in Poznań Cathedral, about 30 individuals stood before the altar displaying banners related to abortion rights. The Mass was interrupted as the demonstrators approached the altar after the reading of the gospel, chanting slogans and distributing flyers while applause broke out among the crowd.
The cathedral parish priest, Fr. Ireneusz Szwarc, asked the protesters to halt the disruption of the Mass.
You are the wicked one. Barbarians, shouted some participants during the rally.
After a brief period, Fr. Szwarc announced the interruption of the Mass due to the disturbance of a dignified liturgy, the violation of health regulations, and the need to protect the sanctity of the Blessed Sacrament. He granted dispensation to parishioners and asked the faithful to leave the cathedral.
Indictment and the verdict
Following the cathedral protest, prosecutors charged 32 individuals with jointly and in concert obstructing the performance of a religious act in a manner deemed malicious. The offense carries penalties including fines, community service, or imprisonment for up to two years.
The defendants maintained their innocence. The court appeared to lean in their favor from the outset, noting that the provocative actions were not carried out with malicious intent. The judge explained in the verdict that the wave of protests after the tribunal’s ruling spread across the country but that the evidence did not show malicious intent among the demonstrators who aimed to express their disagreement with the tribunal’s decision.
The judge added that the protesters conducted themselves with seriousness and respect for the sacred space, choosing the sermon time for the protest, and that the banners did not incite hatred or attack religion in an offensive manner.
Analysts and observers warned that the Poznań decision could set a dangerous precedent by suggesting that physical disruption of religious services might not be treated harshly in court, a concern voiced by some legal commentators and religious groups.
End of report.