We Are One at the Table — Even When Divided at the Polls
Reflections on Poland’s Election, the Pain of Division, and the Enduring Call to Love Without Exception
On a bright June morning, as the Church sang, “We are one, we are one, we are one at the table of the Lord,” those words echoed in my heart with a mixture of conviction and sorrow. They reminded me of a summer not long ago, when the spirit of unity, hope, and hospitality filled the air at the Outreach Conference in Washington, D.C. Back then, our conversations, prayers, and shared witness as LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies felt like a glimpse of the Church - and the world - as it could be: open, inclusive, joyful, and deeply rooted in the Gospel.
But this weekend, the mood has shifted again.
Poland, my homeland - the land of Copernicus, of Solidarność, of Pope John Paul II - held its presidential election. And with just over 50% of the vote, the country chose a path that, to many of us, feels like a step away from dialogue, diversity, and democracy. A nationalist candidate, backed by far-right voices, won not with a unifying vision, but with a message of exclusion, fear, and cultural retrenchment. As someone who cherishes both my Polish roots and the universality of the Church, I grieve.
Like many, I ask: how did we get here? How did a nation built on resistance, on solidarity, on the hard-won dignity of every person - especially the marginalized - choose this direction?
Still, as a priest and as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, I am reminded of St. Eugene de Mazenod’s powerful conviction: “Charity embraces all people, all sufferings, and all needs. It excludes no one.” Even when the ballot box divides, the table of the Lord invites. Even when politics disappoint, the Gospel demands that we love.
To my LGBTQ+ siblings in Poland: I see you. You belong. You are not alone. No political campaign, no policy, no presidency can erase your God-given dignity. You are beloved.
To those committed to a just and open society: keep going. Speak truth. Build bridges. Defend the vulnerable. Yes, the days ahead may be difficult. But we are not abandoned. “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God goes with you.” (Deut 31:6)
And so we sing again, not as denial but as defiance: We are one, we are one, we are one at the table of the Lord. We are loved, we are loved.
Even now. Especially now.