Concordat sequel: Border Guard chaplaincy agreement (2007)

The collapsing Communist regime agreed in 1989 to again allow chaplains into the armed forces. [1] On 21 January 1991 John Paul II revived the military ordinariate which includes the troops of the Border Guard [2] and the draft concordat of that year appears to refer to an agreement already made between the Church and military. (Article 10.1) In 1993 a special decanate for the border Guard was created within the military ordinariate.

This agreement is the fourth made between the Church and the Border Guard (§ 12) Bishop-General Tadeusz Płoski who signed this agreement was among the notables killed in the 2010 Smolensk plane crash.

This pact stipulates that the Church chooses and the state pays: military chaplains are hired and fired by Bishop-General Ploski (§ 4.2), but their salaries as officers in the Border Guard are footed by the taxpayer (§6). The chaplaincy is fully integrated with the military, so that chaplains possess both ecclesiastical and military titles, as in "Father Monsignor Kazimierz Colonel Doctor Tuszynski, Dean of the Border Guard". Official equivalencies between the two sorts of titles mean that — a Chaplain is a Lieutenant-colonel (Podpułkownik), a Dean is a Colonel (Pułkownik) and a Bishop is a General (Generał).

This ranking system also means that, as a Major General (Generał dywizji), Bishop Tadeusz Płoski outranked Brigadier General (Generał brygady) Mirosław Kuśmierczak, the Chief Commandant of the Border Guard — who theoretically should salute Bishop Płoski. 

In addition to all this — in a symbolic, but fervently asserted sense — the Most Holy Mother of God is the Commander-in-Chief (Hetmanka).

 There is also now a chaplain in the Polish Internal Security Service (ABW). Only under repeated questioning did the politically tainted and scandal-plagued secret service reveal that on 18 March 2009 it had appointed as chaplain, Father ABW Commander Dr. Leon Szot. An experienced counterintelligence officer who did not want to be named, expressed doubts about the provison of a chaplain to provide "confession and absolution" for moral transgressions committed in the course of their work. This was an important function of the military chaplains under the 1957 Argentine military concordat.
 

---

 

Agreement
between the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard and
the Field Bishop of the Polish Army on the organisation and functioning
of the Catholic ministry in the Border Guard

Concluded on 2 May 2007 in Warsaw
 

 on the basis of art. 7c of the Act of 12 October 1990 on the Border Guard (Journal of Laws 2005,  No 234, item 1997 with subsequent amendments), in connection with the provisions of the Act of 17 May 1989 on Guarantees of freedom of conscience and religion (Journal of Laws 1989 No. 29, item 155 with subsequent amendments) and the Act of 17 May 1989 on the Relations between the State and the Catholic Church in the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws 1989 No. 29, item 154 with subsequent amendments)  considering the introduction of the post of chaplain in the Border Guard in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration [Polish equivalent of Home Secretary] of 21 May 2002 on the basic salaries and allowances of officers of the Border Guard (Journal of Laws Nr 67, item 622 with subsequent amendments), and taking into account the range of responsibilities of the Border Guard chaplains, that is to say, in particular the right to:

— organise pastoral care for officers and employees of the Border Guard and their families, as well as for pensioners of the border services
— organise, conduct and supervise the teaching of normative ethics
— organise services, including on the occasion of celebrations of the Border Guard and state holidays
— cooperate with the commanders of units, training centres and outposts of the Border Guard in the provision of education activities among officers and employees of the Border Guard;
— co-organise patriotic and religious ceremonies with the participation of officers, employees of the Border Guard and their families, and pensioners of the border services;
— undertake official travel in order to implement the above responsibilities and other tasks relating to the Dean's pastoral duties;
— participate with officers and employees of the Border Guard in pilgrimages to war cemeteries and places of national remembrance in order to pay tribute to the heroes of the border formations and national heroes;
— [receive] logistic support for conducting pastoral activities. 

The Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard and the Field Bishop of the Polish Armed Forces, bearing in mind the spiritual and religious well-being and professionalism required of officers of the Border Guard, as well as referring to the rich tradition of pastoral ministry among border formations in the Second Republic of Poland, and following the standards accepted in modern democratic countries,
agree on the following:

§ 1. 

1. The Parties act within their competence arising from separate legal systems [i.e., civil and Canon Law].
2. The agreement does not affect the jurisdiction of the Field Bishop of the Polish Armed Forces arising from Canon Law, or the statutory jurisdiction of the Commander-in-Chief of Border Guard.
3. The Field Ordinariate of the Polish Army carries out pastoral duties in the Border Guard as prescribed for it under Church Law.

§ 2.

1. In order to ensure proper implementation of pastoral activities in the Border Guard, pursuant to the provisions of Canon Law, there will be established a deanery, parishes pastoral centres in branches and training centres of the Border Guard.
2. The Dean of the Border Guard is head of the deanery of the Border Guard.
3. The pastoral ministry of the Border Guard is served by chaplains of the Border Guard in parishes and pastoral centres. 
 
§3.

Co-operation between the Border Guard and the Field Ordinariate of the Polish Army shall be on the basis of collaboration and mutual support at the following levels:

1. Between the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, and the Field Bishop of the Polish Army and Dean of the Border Guard;
2. Between the commander of a unit or a training centre and the Dean of the Border Guard and chaplains;
3. Between head of a unit of the Border Guard Headquarters and the Dean of the Border Guard and chaplains.

§ 4.

1. The Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard are officers of the Border Guard.
2. Pursuant to the provisions of Canon Law, the Field Bishop of the Polish Army has the right to request from the Commander in Chief of the Border Guard appointments and dismissals of the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard.
3. Regarding working methods and the selection of pastoral activities, the Field Ordinariate of the Polish Army is independent.
4. The scope of responsibilities of the Dean of the Border Guard is subject to approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard.
5.  The Field Bishop of the Polish Army appoints the chaplains and the Dean of the Border Guard to carry out pastoral duties by a decree, an example of which is annexed to this Agreement.  The Field Bishop of the Polish Army will inform the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard of the appointments.

§ 5.

1. The Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard is the disciplinary superior of the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard to the extent specified in the Statute on the Border Guard and the executory provisions.
2. Regarding the matter of compliance with the terms of their pastoral service, the Field Bishop of the Polish Army is the disciplinary superior of the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard.
 
§ 6.

The pay grade, awards and promotion to higher military rank of the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard shall be in accordance with the Statute on the Border Guard. In making awards and granting promotions, consideration shall be taken of the views of the Field Bishop of the Polish Army.

§ 7.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard and the commanders of units and training centres will:
1. Take the necessary steps to ensure proper conditions for the implementation by the Dean and chaplains of the ministry and religious practices and for the use of this service by officers and employees of the various organisational units of the Border Guard.
2. Allow all Border Guard officers, employees and their families, pensioners, veterans and combatants the freedom to conduct, according to their wishes, religious practices, and in particular:
a) freedom to contact the Dean and chaplains,
b) participation in Holy Mass on Sundays and public holidays and other customary practices organised in churches, chapels or houses of prayer,
c) participation in services and patriotic and religious ceremonies.
3. Create for the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard optimal conditions for performing pastoral duties, and solicit their opinions about organising religious service.
4. Ensure the participation of the Dean and chaplains in meetings and briefings on discipline and interpersonal relations, and inform them of any problems occurring in that area.
5. Enable the Dean and chaplains to shape, within the environment of the Border Guard officers, desirable moral, civic, patriotic and religious attitudes.
6. Ensure, together with the Dean and chaplains, optimal realisation of the tasks and projects arising from the annual pastoral plan.
7. Include within the training program classes in normative ethics.
 
§ 8.

For the purpose of the pastoral ministry in the Border Guard units, where possible churches, chapels or prayer rooms shall be set up with the appropriate logistic support, in accordance with the liturgical requirements, having complied with the requirements of civil law, in particular building regulations and public finance law.

§ 9.

1. The Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard are allocated fully-equipped offices in the Headquarters of the Border Guard and training centres.
2. The allocation of buildings and premises to the deanery, parishes and pastoral centres of the Border Guard, and the provision of transport is carried out in accordance with the regulations in force within the Border Guard.

§ 10.

In exceptional circumstances religious services are organised by the Dean and chaplains of the Border Guard in a place specified by a competent commander in the area of operations of the Border Guard officers.

§ 11.

At the beginning of each calendar year the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard and the Field Bishop of the Polish Army will assess the requirements for pastoral activity in the Border Guard and set objectives for the current year. They will set the schedule of meetings at their discretion.
 
§ 12.

Agreement No. 3 between the Commander-in-Chief of Border Guard and Field Bishop of the Polish Army on the organisation of the Catholic ministry in the Border Guard, signed on 10 March 1995 in Warsaw, shall expire.

§ 13.

The present Agreement shall enter into force upon signature.
 
Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard
General of Brigade Mirosław Kuśmierczak

Field Bishop of the Polish Army
General of Division Tadeusz Płoski
 

---

According to a press release on the day of the signing posted on the military chaplaincy website, many others were there, as well. In addition to representatives of the Border Guard chaplaincy,

the agreement was signed in the presence of Minister of Defence Aleksander Szczygło and Deputy Minister of Defence Jacek Kotas as well as other officers who had come for an indulgence to the Military Cathedral of Polish Army and Flag Day [2nd of May].

 

---

 

Notes for text

1. “Law on the relationship between the State and the Catholic Church in the People's Republic of Poland”, 1989, one of Rakowski’s “May Laws” .

2. “Przywrócenie Ordynariatu Polowego WP [Wojsko Polskie = Polish Army] w 1991 r.” (Reinstatement of the Military Ordinariate in 1991) http://www.katedrapolowa.pl/przywrocenie_ordynariatu_polowego.php

“80 Rocznica powstania Straży Granicznej z posługą duszpasterską wśród funkcjonariuszy i pracowników” (80th Anniversary of the founding of the Border Guard with the pastoral ministry among the officers and staff), 10 May 2006.
http://www.strazgraniczna.pl/wps/portal/tresc?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/pl/serwis-sg/wydarzenia/duszpasterstwo/dekana_rzymsko_katolicki/krk_sg2rp

Notes for sidebars

* The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine, trans. and adapted by Ryan, Granger and Helmut Ripperger. (Arno Press: Longmans, Green & Co) 1941. pp. 561-566. http://www.mcah.columbia.edu/medmil/pages/non-mma-pages/text_links/gl_matthew.html

Speech by chaplain Sylwester Dziedzic to the Border Guard, “Apostoł Mateusz Ewangelista - Patron Straży Granicznej drogowskazem w służbie i życiu funkcjonariusza i pracownika Straży Granicznej” (St. Matthew the Evangelist - Patron of the Border Guard) , 21 September 2008.  http://www.strazgraniczna.pl/wps/portal/tresc?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/pl/serwis-sg/wydarzenia/duszpasterstwo/dekana_rzymsko_katolicki/sw_mateusz
 

---

Source:
Porozumienie między Komendantem Głównym SG i Biskupem Polowym WP w sprawie organizacji i funkcjonowania katolickiego duszpasterstwa w Straży Granicznej
(zawarte w dniu 2 maja 2007 w Warszawie)
http://www.ordynariat.wp.mil.pl/pl/139_627.html 

Translated by Renata Anderson
Research contributed by Maciej Psyk