Da Barbara Niedźwiedzka, Polonia:
In Solidarity with Animals: Voices from the III Forum of the Polish Congress of Catholics in Gdańsk (October 26-27, 2024)
On October 26, 2024, at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk—a place of profound historical significance, where the Solidarity movement was born in 1980, ultimately toppling communist rule in Poland and transforming Eastern Europe—I called for a new form of solidarity: human solidarity with animals. Here is the recording.
⦁ i 2. European Center of Solidarity and The Gate of Gdansk Shipyard.
The experience was profoundly personal. As a former member of Solidarity and an active participant in the underground opposition during martial law, I witnessed the arduous struggle for Poland’s liberation from Soviet influence and celebrated its triumph. The Gdańsk Shipyard, with its enduring symbolism of resistance and hope, remains deeply significant to me.
I had the honour of speaking at the Third Forum of the Congress of Catholics, a grassroots initiative dedicated to exploring the future of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. This forum serves as both a space for exchanging ideas and a platform for collective action, addressing the reforms necessary for the Church to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Within the Congress, I lead the “Care for Creation” Team, which focuses on integral ecology. As part of our work, we produced two reports aimed at diagnosing the ecological challenges in Poland. The first report, “Care for Creation is a Test of Our Faith,” provided a broad overview of ecology within the Polish Church, while the second, “Catholics and God’s Animals,” explored the place of animals in Catholic thought and faith.
Additionally, I am active in an independent group, Christians for Animals, where we strive to awaken Catholic awareness about the plight of animals. We highlight the harm inflicted upon them and emphasize our moral and religious duty to care for all living beings. Our work also draws attention to the devastating effects of industrial animal farming on the environment, climate, and human health.
At the third consecutive Congress Forum, the central theme was ecology, marking the culmination of years of dedicated work by the “Care for Creation” team. Among the key topics discussed was water—a subject that became tragically relevant with the recent devastating floods in Poland and other countries, starkly illustrating the consequences of human disruption to environmental balance.
Another critical focus was animals and the impact of the animal industry. At our invitation, Bishop John Arnold of Salford (UK), who oversees ecological matters for the UK Episcopate, addressed these issues in his opening speech. A significant portion of his address was dedicated to advocating for ecologically sustainable agriculture. He emphasized the ethical responsibility to ensure animal welfare and highlighted the severe environmental, climatic, and health consequences of industrial animal farming. Bishop Arnold urged a reduction in meat consumption, an end to food waste, and a shift toward a more plant-based diet—one that benefits the environment, human health, and animal welfare alike.
While some animal advocates may find his stance not radical enough, within the context of Poland, his was a groundbreaking voice from the Church hierarchy. You can listen to his full address to the Forum participants here: (10 min.) https://opowiedzzwierze.pl/bp-john-arnold-z-napisami-pol/
3. Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford (UK). In climate challenge everything is connected.
4. The audytorium
In my speech, I focused on the ethical dimensions of animal abuse. Speaking at the European Solidarity Centre, I urged the audience to extend the principles of solidarity to include animals. You can watch my full address (16 minutes): Here is the link
5. Barbara Niedźwiedzka. The silent stakeholders of the care for creation.
Many people expressed gratitude for my message. One attendee shared that they had been waiting their entire life for someone to stand up for animals within the Church.
Additionally, we ensured that the catering at the Forum was entirely vegan—a likely first for an event of this scale within the Catholic community. The decision was met with widespread praise and appreciation.
6 and 7. Vegan lunches and desserts, the last ones baked by one of our Collegues
Our steadfast efforts were truly worthwhile, as they created the opportunity to speak the truth to such an open and receptive audience. Crucially, this was not a gathering of animal advocates—it was a group of people largely unfamiliar with this perspective. For many, it was the first time they heard animals discussed as companions on life’s journey, deserving of care, gratitude, and solidarity.
May our words and actions continue to inspire and hasten the change we so eagerly hope to see.
8. Some members of the Care for Creation Team and Christians for Animals Group.
Barbara Niedźwiedzka, PhD, is the coordinator of the “Care for Creation Team” at the Polish Congress of Catholics, the leader of the “Christians for Animals” group, and a Laudato Si’ Movement animator. She is also the author of numerous publications on animal rights and the founder of the website www.opowiedzzwierze.pl
