Popieranie i obrona praw człowieka przez Kościół

The author shows that support and protection of human rights by the Church is drawn on the following three planes: through teaching, education and practical activity. In the Church’s documents on social matters it is believed that there is close correlation between human rights and the Gospel. The Synod of Bishops in Rome (1974) pointed out that the development- of human rights is the order of the Gospel, and that it must occupy the central place in the teaching of the Church. The Church supports and protects human rights through developing and proclaiming the integral concept of these rights. In the author’s opinion the one-sided formulation of human rights (i.e. either stressing freedom or equality) leads to a faulty realization of these. Human rights must be realized with emphasis on all of their aspects: freedom, social and solidarity ones. The Church’s contribution in protecting human rights lies in her awakening people’s consciousness that these rights concern every individual. The ignorance of human rights application facilitates their infringement. To counteract this and to protect observance of human rights both within the state and on the international plane there is great role to play by public opinion. Which constitutes a kind of sanction, namely a sociological one. The Church is an important subject in shaping public opinion, through condemnation and unmasking all forms of violence, and through protests. The Church also contributes to the observance of human rights trough education and shaping the human rights culture. Education for human rights should be based on such a hierarchy of values in which human beings are given priority over capital, spiritual values over material ones, ethics over technology, etc. It should be based on the dogma of brotherhood of men, on the truth, equal dignity. It is also important that people be educated in the spirit of tolerance and that they could criticize unjust structures and values popularized in mass media. Their education should be based on the truth and love. It should teach how to use freedom and fulfil duties. „Only that one is fully and truly free who strives for the same freedom for other people” (John Paul II). People and nations should be taught the dialogue which is a moral imperative. The author points out that there is a close correlation between the observance of human rights and peace and equates education for human rights with education for peace. He emphasizes the facet that peace is the fundamental right of man. The Church’s practical activity in support of human rights is presented in historical perspective. The social-charitable and educational activity continued through centuries by the Church has been raised to the rank of legal protection. This is closely related to human rights even when the concept of human rights itself does not exist, eg. in the Middle Ages the Church’s legislation protected such rights as we today call the right to live in peace, to culture (language), to exist as a state, etc. More and more attention is directed to the protection of human rights by local Churches in Latin America. The Holy See offers co-operation with international and other organizations in support of human rights. It had its considerable contribution in formulating and proclaiming the so-called principle of human rights in Helsinki.