Polish Media Texts

This is a translation of the original Polish article, which can be found here. The translation is unauthorised, and is provided for educational, informational and non-commercial purposes only'

Professor Magdalena Środa comments: “A totalitarian ban on abortion

Mateusz Zardzewiały, Super Express

Professor Magdalena Środa, in an interview with Mateusz Zardzewiały, evaluates the Church’s initiative regarding abortion.

-How do you respond to the idea of rejecting the abortion compromise?

-I would remind everyone that in the history of Europe totalitarian systems were always behind full abortion bans. Such a prohibition was imposed in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, under the Vichy regime in France and the communist dictatorship of Ceausescu. This form of suppression also occurs in Islamic countries. Totalitarianism compelled women to give birth for demographic reasons (cannon fodder or manpower); Islam in this way denudes women of their rights and subordinates them as dependents of men. Our Catholicism seems to have similar aspirations, because the struggle over ‘unborn lives’ is a fairly new pursuance, since the church throughout its history was not deeply engaged with children’s matters.

- From the perspective of both women and society, what are the major consequences of a ban on abortion?

- Another enormous wave in the rise of hypocrisy, but above all the suffering of women. There will be many tragedies, perhaps even infanticides. The torment and helplessness will mainly affect disadvantaged women who do not have access to sex education, contraception or border clinics. Hypocrisy and suffering: those will be the main outcomes. The abortion ban will certainly not contribute to demographic growth or greater respect for life. However, it may accelerate the secularization of the country.

- Do you agree with the argument of some circles that abortion is the murder of unborn children?

- Abortion is an interruption of pregnancy. The fetus is not a person or even a child; if it was, abortion should be punished with life imprisonment. In civilised countries it is permitted up to 12 weeks, when a fetus is not yet a being developed enough to feel pain and definitely has no rights.

- According to you, when should abortion be permitted?

- The same as in all civilized countries, that is, due to the birth defects, threats to the mother’s health, due to rape or social reasons.

- When do you believe a fetus becomes a human being?

- Science does not provide an unequivocal answer. We could relate this to the development of the nervous system, the heart, the brain or the independence of certain organs, etc. Furthermore, religions hold inconsistent positions on this issue. Besides, Catholicism has never been particular about the protection of life. After all, it is not a pacifistic institution. On the contrary, the church itself has waged wars in the past and managed to justify the killings – as defence of the faith, freedom and independence. It cannot understand, however, that a woman has the right to defend her freedom and autonomy as well.

- If you could issue a decree, which would become a law, would you keep the compromise or go even further than the present law allows?

- First of all it is not a compromise. Agreement between bishops and politicians cannot be called a compromise. The ban on abortion in 1993 was supposed to be a gift for John Paul II; now, tightening it up is supposed to be a gift on the occasion of 1,050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland. The abortion ban is more like proof of the bishops’ power in Poland, and of the cynicism of politicians, who believe that subordinating women and depriving them of their right to autonomy has anything to do with morality.

- But maybe strategically the plans of PiS are not so bad for you? Many Poles disagree with the total ban on abortion, so perhaps its introduction could turn out to be powerful fuel for the next electoral campaigns of parties of the left? Just as the issue of legalization of marihuana was a springboard for Palikot [a liberal politician]?

- It is not about left or right. In European countries the right to abortion has been frequently introduced by right-wing governments, because acknowledging women’s rights is not a subject matter for political programs, but a basic pre-requisite of civilization. Let us not forget it is about the life and suffering of women. And in Poland, it is also about a choice between democracy and fundamentalism. 

Translated by: Aleksandra Kubiak, Aleksandra Juda, Paweł Dacyl