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Adventists in Poland

November 19, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Anti-sect Police Training Challenged by Adventists in 
Poland

Warsaw, Poland.      Poland's police chief, General 
Jan Michna, has assured leaders of the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church of his commitment to the 
constitutional principles of religious freedom and 
respect for all religious minorities. "Members of these 
communities should not fear the police, if the law 
is respected," Michna said. 

During a meeting at the police headquarters in Warsaw 
on October 13, Adventist leaders expressed their concern 
over police training, which is based on training 
materials and information about minorities that often 
distorts reality. In its law enforcement training, the 
police had been using materials about new religious 
movements and sects provided by the Catholic information 
centers. Adventist Church leaders cited cases of police 
trainers using what the religious minorities consider 
derogatory language when referring to recognized churches 
and generally respected minority religious groups.

General Michna, who was recently appointed as Poland's 
police chief, said that "any church that teaches 
principles of order, peace, and respect for the law is 
considered, from the police's point of view, as a valued 
and respected organization." During the visit, Adventist 
Church leaders welcomed the recent success of the police 
in fighting organized crime in the country.

Earlier this year the Council of Ecumenism of the 
Conference of Bishops of the Roman-Catholic Church in Poland 
and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland published 
a statement, which declares that "The Seventh-day Adventist 
Church cannot be treated either as 'a new religious movement,' 
or as a sect," The statements recognises: "The Adventist 
Church that belongs to the Church of Christ has got in 
Poland legal regulation of its status, brings the positive 
religious and moral values into the life of our society and 
with respect relates to the Catholic Church as well as the 
other Christian Churches, religious and social communities 
in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel, human rights and 
principles of religious liberty and beliefs."

More than 12,000 Adventist Christian, including 5,638 adult 
baptised church members live in Poland.