Historical Overview of Pastoral Care in Prison in Poland (1550-1956)
Historical Overview of Pastoral Care in Prison in Poland (1550-1956)

Summary/Abstract: The entire history of pastoral care in prison presented in this article focused on two dimensions: the prisoner’s legal situation (his rights and duties as a prisoner) and the legal situation of the prison chaplain. Until 1918, prison chaplaincy concentrated on performing the religious assistance and building new prison chapels. Subsequently, in the second period (1918-1939), based on the rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej z dnia 7 marca 1928 r. w sprawie organizacji więziennictwa, Polish prisoners obtained the right to participate in religious services. The next legal act [rozporządzenia Ministra Sprawiedliwości z dnia 20 czerwca 1931 r. w sprawie regulaminu więziennego] issued in 1931, allowed to sort out matters related to the access of prisoners of various denominations to the religious ministry in the prison chapel. The Act of 26 of July of 1939 on the organization of penitentiary institutions [ustawa z dnia 26 lipca 1939 r. o organizacji więziennictwa] has significant role. The evolution of prison chaplaincy during the Soviet and German occupation was also presented. At least, the special attention was paid to the agreement of 14 of April 1950 concluded between the communistic Government and the Polish Episcopate.

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