Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Czestochowa (Agenzia Fides) - The most popular Catholic journal in Poland, “Niedziela,” based in Czestochowa, has recently published the results of an opinion poll that was taken regarding the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in the parishes of Poland. The poll was taken by the Institute for Statistics of the Catholic Church, lead by Fr. Witold Zdaniewicz, upon the request of “Niedziela.” According to the polls’ results, for Catholics in Poland, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is considered among one of the most important and fundamental aspects of the spiritual life. 51.7% go to confession “once in a while” during the year, 46.5% go every month, and only 1.7% go once a year.
According to the poll, the sacrament is also important for daily life. 85.9% of those asked, said that confession implies a change in their spiritual life; 53.8% said that confession helps them to change and to improve family relationships; 53.6% said that confession helped them to forgive others. For Polish Catholics, the priest in the confessional plays an important role: 55.7% said he is a witness to the Divine Mercy, 47.4% said he works as a spiritual director that understands our lives, 9% said he was the judge who gives the penance, and 34.7% said he was a spiritual doctor.
“Lent is a good opportunity for reflecting on our lives and on our spirituality, especially on the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” Niedziela’s editor-in-chief, Monsignor Ireneusz Skubis. (MF/SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/2/2008 righe 19, parole 240)
