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In the meantime, Poland is not only building lots of new churches, it even builds new cathedrals adorned in gold[0]. Even the little town I'm from(only 20k population) has 3 churches, and they are all full of gold and it's common knowledge that the local priests are most likely one of the wealthiest people around.

[0]This was only finished in 2004, and is the most disgustingly oppulent building I have ever seen:

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazylika_Naj%C5%9Bwi%C4%99tsze...

You'd think all of this would turn people away from the church, but it doesn't seem that way - each church usually has to hold 4-5 masses every Sunday and for every one the church is full to the brim, with people standing outside because there's no more room in the church itself.

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> You'd think all of this would turn people away from the church, but it doesn't seem that way

It does. Poland is one of the most rapidly secularizing countries in the world according to Pew.[1]

Also mass attendance is at the lowest point since 1980 (36% of Catholics attend mass) [2]

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/9l3q03/polands_yout...

[2] https://natemat.pl/226659,tak-zle-z-kosciolem-w-polsce-jeszc...

That makes sense. Here in Germany, if you go to a church on easter, christmas, etc. you'd be surprised that most of the people in church are Polish immigrants and their German children.

I don't know why, but Polish people are the most religious community I know here.

> I don't know why, but Polish people are the most religious community I know here.

Historical reasons basically.

For the most part of the past 200 years, Poles lacked their own independent country (first it was partitioned in 1795 by Russia, Prussia and Austria, then it gained indepenence in 1918 only to be again conquered by Soviet Union in 1945). During that time, Church and faith were one of the primary allowed (or at least tolerated by the occupants) expression of one's identity as a Pole - people were singing partiotic songs during masses, priests were leaders of the nationalist opposition (and frequently murdered for that) etc. Hence, historically Catholic Church means much more to Poles than to most other nations.

Because Poland has a long and complicated history with the Catholic church. For a lot of people, the Catholic Church represented the only oasis of freedom during the communist rule after WW2 and before 1989, and can be credited with accelerating the end of communism in Poland, especially with a Polish pope being elected merely a decade earlier.

Nowadays though I would call it what it is - it's cancer growing unchecked on the Polish state. And I don't mean the religion - I mean the Catholic Church of Poland is constantly meddling in Politics, influencing new policies, Polish bishops are almost celebrities with a huge amount of wealth, the church does not pay taxes, they are one of the largest land owners in Poland....it's a frightening insitution that only seems to be growing in strength, you'd think young people would turn away from it, but with the current right-wing government literally saying that those who don't defend the church are not real Poles it's quite obvious what the party line is - either you are with the church or you are not welcome.

Church is also the community of people coming together, it’s nuns and priests going on missions to countries in need, it’s priests doing Sunday service for people who believe. Have you excluded these from your definition of Church or do you think these are also cancer?

Croatia is also regressing back towards middle ages, with a huge influence from the church on politics and everyday life. There are the Croatia-Vatican agreements whereby the church is guaranteed hundreds of millions in funding from the tax payers and there is religious education (catechism) as a regular school subject in public schools. Many monumental churches are being built, and it is well known many priests drive nice cars and live a comfortable, dare I say lavish, lifestyle.

Here is one example in Knin, one of the poorest towns in the country.

> Situated at the site of an old bolt and screw factory, 3 million euros has been invested to construct the Gospe Velikog Hrvatskog Krsnog Zavjeta (Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Vow) Church in Knin (Šibenik-Knin County). The 1,024 square-metre Church will seat over 700 people when finished, making it Croatia’s largest Church.

https://www.croatiaweek.com/photos-building-on-biggest-churc...

Or look at this monstrosity in Split (15 million HRK, roughly 2 million EUR)

https://www.24sata.hr/news/novi-dom-skromnih-franjevaca-u-sp...

And lets not forget the luxurious episcopal conference palace covered with marble and onyx, with a cost of 16,5 million euros.

https://www.jutarnji.hr/Fotogalerije/najluksuznija-zgrada-cr...

In the meantime, cities can't even buy new buses without EU funds. It's disgraceful.

Don't worry. Too much opulence and political meddling will see some rando show up and nail a list of "suggestions" to the door of the place. Then the real fun begins.

Only anecdotal but my impression is that since 1989 Romania has also been building new churches like there's no tomorrow.

Russia also. Because they were demolished 100 years ago like there's no tomorrow.

Does this enthusiasm for building gold-plated cathedrals (and religion in general) also translate to enthusiasm for monastic life? Would be interested to hear about that aspect.

It doesn’t turn people away since your characterization of priests and church is inaccurate. I agree there are anomalies and outliers but your description suggests these might be norms. Also, I believe people don’t conflate what their belief is at the core with what a particular priest does.

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