Polish bishops introduce financial penalties for canonical offenses
WARSAW: The Catholic Church in Poland has introduced financial penalties for clergy and laypeople performing official Church duties who commit canonical offenses.
The measure, which took effect on March 1, follows the 2021 reform of the Church’s Code of Canon Law by Pope Francis that restored the use of financial sanctions as disciplinary penalties.
The new rules were adopted by the Polish Episcopal Conference during its plenary assembly in Gdańsk in October 2025 and later approved by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops in January this year.
How the fines will work
Under the new regulations, fines are linked to Poland’s statutory minimum monthly wage.
The minimum penalty will be half of the national minimum wage, while the maximum can reach 20 times the minimum wage, depending on the seriousness of the offense.
With Poland’s current minimum gross monthly wage set at 4,806 Polish zloty (about $1,350), fines could range from 2,403 zloty (about $680) to 96,120 zloty (about $26,900).
Authorities imposing the penalty will decide which Church entity receives the funds, provided they are used for Church-related purposes.
The sanctions may also include partial or full loss of Church remuneration. However, the decree states that individuals cannot be deprived of the income necessary for “decent maintenance,” meaning they must retain at least the amount protected from wage seizure under Polish civil law.
Who the rules apply to
The new norms apply not only to priests but also to laypersons holding official Church positions or working in diocesan or parish structures.
Church leaders say linking fines to the minimum wage ensures that penalties remain proportional and automatically adjust to economic conditions over time.
What counts as a canonical offense
Under the revised Code of Canon Law, a canonical offense is an external violation of Church law committed with sufficient freedom and intent.
Examples include abuse of ecclesiastical office, financial misconduct, disobedience to Church authority, and violations related to the administration of sacraments. More serious crimes under Church law include sexual abuse and the unlawful administration of sacraments.
Not every moral failing qualifies as a canonical crime. For a penalty to be imposed, the violation must be clearly defined in law and proven to have been committed by the individual responsible.
Strengthening accountability
Church officials say the new financial penalties are meant to strengthen internal accountability and make disciplinary measures more transparent.
The decree was signed by the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, Tadeusz Wojda, and the conference’s secretary-general, Marek Marczak.