Polish bishops introduce financial penalties for canonical offenses

WARSAW, Poland — The Catholic Church in Poland introduced financial penalties as a disciplinary measure on March 1 for clergy and laypersons performing official Church functions who commit canonical offenses.

The move follows the 2021 reform of the Code of Canon Law by Pope Francis, which restored and clarified the Church’s ability to impose financial penalties as expiatory sanctions.

The Polish Episcopal Conference adopted national norms implementing the reform on financial penalties during its 402nd Plenary Assembly in Gdańsk on Oct. 14, 2025.

The decree subsequently received the required approval from the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome on Jan. 26, clearing the way for its promulgation. The Polish Episcopal Conference formally announced the measure on Feb. 26.

How the fines work

Under the new regulations, fines are calculated in relation to Poland’s statutory minimum gross monthly wage at the time the penalty is imposed.

The decree specifies that the minimum fine cannot be less than half of the minimum gross monthly wage and that the maximum fine cannot exceed 20 times the minimum gross monthly wage.

With Poland’s minimum gross monthly wage currently set at 4,806 Polish zloty — approximately $1,350 — this means fines would range from 2,403 zloty (approximately $680) to 96,120 zloty (approximately $26,900), depending on the gravity of the offense.

The sanction may also include partial or complete deprivation of Church remuneration. However, the decree states that penalties cannot deprive the punished person of the means necessary for “decent maintenance.” In practice, this means the individual must retain income equivalent to the amount protected from wage seizure under Polish civil law.

The authority imposing the penalty determines the entity to which the fine is paid, provided it serves Church purposes.

The new norms apply not only to priests but also to laypersons holding ecclesial offices or carrying out official Church duties, including those employed in parishes or diocesan structures.

By linking fines to the minimum wage, the Polish bishops aim to ensure that penalties remain proportionate and retain their real value over time, adjusting automatically to economic conditions.

What are canonical offenses?

Under Church law, a canonical offense is an external violation of a law or precept committed with sufficient freedom and intent. The revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, updated in 2021, outlines a range of punishable offenses.

These include abuses of ecclesiastical office, financial misconduct, violation of obligations attached to sacred ministry, disobedience to legitimate Church authority, and offenses against the sacraments. The law also provides penalties for more serious crimes such as sexual abuse, attempted ordination of women, or the unlawful administration of sacraments.

Not every mistake or moral failing constitutes a canonical crime. For a penalty to be imposed, the violation must be legally defined, externally verifiable, and imputable to the person responsible.

The introduction of financial penalties in Poland therefore applies to cases in which Church authorities determine that a cleric or lay official has committed a formal violation of ecclesiastical law while carrying out Church duties.

Basis of the reform

The Polish decree implements Pope Francis’ 2021 revision of Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which strengthened penal provisions within the Church. The reform clarified categories of offenses and reinstated financial penalties as legitimate canonical sanctions.

The Vatican reform was intended to promote greater accountability, consistency, and transparency in the application of Church discipline, particularly in response to concerns that canonical penalties had sometimes been applied unevenly.

In this way, the Polish Catholic Church implementing financial penalties for canonical abuses would be seen to strengthen internal accountability mechanisms while clearly outlining financial consequences for violations of Church law.

Intended effect

The new regulations aim to enhance clarity and deterrence in canonical discipline. By specifying financial consequences tied to objective civil benchmarks, the norms seek to make penalties more concrete and effective.

At the same time, the safeguards built into the decree ensure that sanctions remain proportionate and do not strip individuals of the resources necessary for basic living.

The decree was signed by the president of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Metropolitan Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda of Gdańsk, and Bishop Marek Marczak, secretary-general of the conference.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/europe/polish-bishops-introduce-financial-penalties-for-canonical-offenses