SW News: The leader of Poland's Catholic Church has warned that lawmakers who support abortion commit a grave sin and cannot partake in Holy Communion. He made this statement after Poland's major opposition parties indicated support for eliminating the almost total prohibition on abortion, which is backed by the Church.

Archbishop Stanislaw Gdecki of Pozna and the president of the Polish Episcopal Conference declared that human life is sacred and inviolable in every dimension and condition at the annual March of Life and Family, which took place recently.

The prelate said the right to life is today most often threatened by financial interests.

He said legislation that denies a child their basic right to life is unjust. Any MP who votes against life is guilty of a serious sin and is therefore ineligible for Holy Communion.

A judgment by Poland's Constitutional Tribunal in 2020 tightened the legislation, which is already one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. It banned abortions that may be supported by the diagnosis of serious birth abnormalities in the fetus, which accounted for 98% of Poland's previous legal abortions.

Abortion is now permissible only in two situations: When the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother's health or life, or when it is the result of criminal activity such as rape or incest.

The Church was a target of the widespread protests that erupted after the Constitutional Tribunal’s decision and strongly favored tightening the law. The verdict was also applauded by the government's national-conservative Law and Justice Party, which has strong ties to the church.

Gądecki also reminded medical professionals to show the highest respect for human life and its sacredness.

The archbishop said killing can never be considered a curative action, even when the sole intention is to comply with the patient’s request. It is rather a betrayal of the medical profession. He also declared that respect for every human life requires recognition of the right to conscientious objection to abortion and euthanasia.