The Catholic Church in Poland has traditionally enjoyed a strong position thanks to its role in the opposition to communism and historical fusion of Polish and Catholic identities. This paper uses automated text analysis to examine topic and word choices in the Church’s official discourse since the fall of communism in 1989 and around major debates such as entry into the EU and controversial social policy legislation. I find that, as the guardian of Christian and Polish values, the Church has remained actively engaged in the discussion of moral issues with implications for public policy regarding family or employment, even if avoiding explicitly political messages. The documents frequently and consistently evoke national values and blend them with religious values, often recalling the example of John Paul II. The Catholic Church’s continuous, if at times subtle, attempts at shaping policy in Poland speak to its position of influence despite secularization trends.
