The article presents the problem of refusal to provide a service due to the service provider’s freedom of conscience and religion. In practice, it raises many problems. Protection resulting from the Article 138 of the Code of Petty Offenses was aimed at preventing discrimination against people who want to use the services provided by professionals. In 2019 the content of this provision has been changed by a decision of Polish Constitutional Tribunal (case No. K 16/17). The author claims that the invocation of professed principles of faith and conscience should not automatically be regarded as discrimination. The prohibition of forcing to act contrary to the conscience or professed principles of faith is an emanation of human dignity.

Relations between the state and churches and religious associations in Poland

Freedom of conscience and religion is the foundation of the modern concept of a democratic state ruled of law. This concept is a source of limitations for this freedom. This freedom cannot be considered solely in the sphere of the psyche and in the sphere of privacy. The author presents and analyzes the regulation in question against the background of the principles determining the position of churches and religious associations in the state and their relations with the state.

Confessional Secrecy in Criminal, Civil and Administrative Cases as a Condition for the Implementation of the Constitutional Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion

The text is devoted to the issue of protection of the secret of confession provided on the basis of criminal trial, civil and administration process. This secret is the immanent element of the rites of persons exercising their freedom of conscience and religion under Art. 53 sec. 1 of the Constitution. Freedom of conscience and religion is one of the most important. The differences in the approach to clergy witnesses and possible solutions for the unification of mechanisms governing their interrogation were presented.

The offense against religious feelings expressed in the text of Art. 196 of PC is strongly embedded in the constitutional liberties and freedoms and human rights of both the Council of Europe and the European Union. Freedom of conscience and religion, which originated in the wording of Art. 196 of PC remains in antinomy to other constitutional values protected by both international acts such as freedom of expression, freedom of artistic expression, the freedom to teach and freedom to enjoy cultural heritage. This requires balancing the content of these freedoms. At present stage there is yet no way to resolve the alleged doctrine of countertype of art.

Examining Conscientious Objection as a Mean of Safeguarding Individual Freedom of Conscience: Reflections on Art. 85 of the Polish Constitution

This article examines the conscience clause, which is also known as conscientious objection, and its purpose in protecting an individual’s beliefs when they come into conflict with positive law. Specifically, the author discusses how the conscience clause applies to the constitutional duty to perform military service. In the case of mandatory military service, the legislator recognizes the possibility of a conflict of conscience for an individual when the duty to perform military service would be in conflict with the moral principles upheld by that individual. To address this issue, the legislator has introduced the institution of alternative service. Alternative service, which includes, among other things, work in the fields of environmental protection, fire protection, healthcare, social assistance, and care for people with disabilities or the homeless, has become a constitutional guarantee for the freedom of conscience and religion expressed in Article 53 of the Constitution.

Reliable Justification of the Court Judgment in the Context of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of March 9, 2023 in the Case of Cupial v. Poland

One of the elements of the right to a fair trial is the right of the individual to a reliable justification of the decision in the case, derived from the right to the appropriate shap- ing of the court procedure. The aim of the article is to show that this is a key element in cases where the court adjudicates the rights and freedoms of an individual, setting their limits. In the judgment of March 9, 2023, in the case of Cupial against Poland, the Euro- pean Court of Human Rights emphasized the special role of a reliable justification of the judgment. The author considers this requirement as one of the fundamental guarantees of respecting the rights and freedoms of the individual, which in the context of the dis- cussed case is the freedom of conscience and religion, and the right to ensure children a religious upbringing in accordance with parents convictions. The analysis of the indi- cated issue was made on the basis of the dogmatic-legal method.