The analyses shown in this paper are an attempt at a confrontation with Father Józef Tischner’s concepts pertaining to a vision of democracy and relations between the Church and a contemporary state under the rule of law. Tischner’s philosophy of man gave rise to reflection on public life tied up with religious reflection. He would seek a proper place for man in the contemporary society. The author concludes that – when examined and evaluated from a perspective of years – the thought paradigm created by Tischner pertaining to the relations between state and the Church, his vision of the relations between the Church and a democratic state under the rule of law, not only do not lose any of their meaning, but also provide an inspiration for reflection and search of new solutions, particularly in a situation when the problems that he cared for are now, after twenty years of building democracy, visible even better and more clearly.
Key words: Józef Tischner, The catholic Church, state, democracy, philosophy of politics, relations between state and the Church