Abstract

The paper presents the legal status of the two Mariavite Churches, the Old Catholic Mariavite Church and the Catholic Mariavite Church, in Polish law. The relations of the Republic of Poland and the Churches in question are regulated by the Polish Constitution (1997), the Act on guarantees of the freedom of conscience and confession (1989) and two acts on the relationship between State and the Mariavite Churches (both 1997). The general conclusion is that although Polish law treats all Churches and other religious organizations equally, in practice, one can observe some differences in the legal situation of the Mariavite Churches.