The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Pastoral Practice in the Roman Catholic Church in Poland

Public entities, including religious institutions, which also serve public functions, are required to adapt their space and services to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. The article presents the findings of a study on the accessibility of places of worship that belong to the Catholic Church in Poland, in relation to existing laws, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The research hypothesis was that the Catholic Church in Poland implements legal provisions, including the UN Convention, to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. The article is based on empirical data collected during a nationwide quantitative study. The research aimed to assess the current state of parishes in Poland, focusing on measures that are taken to support people with disabilities, both in spiritual and practical aspects. The hypothesis was partially confirmed. The factors hindering the full implementation of the relevant legal provisions were also identified. The research findings show that real steps are being taken to fight discrimination on grounds of disability; however, these efforts still seem to be insufficient when compared to accessibility advancements in other public institutions in Poland

Convention · Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities · Human rights · Political science · Sociology · Law · Multicultural Socio-Legal Studies · Religious Freedom and Discrimination · Theology and Canon Law Studies