WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Both Poland's prime minister and the powerful leader of the conservative ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, say they support a total ban on abortion.

Abortion is currently only allowed in rare cases in mostly Catholic Poland, such as for rape or if the fetus is damaged. But a new civic group called "Stop Abortion" is gathering support to impose a total ban. The movement is supported by Poland's Roman Catholic Church.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and Kaczynski, both Catholics, said Thursday they support the total ban.

Their party, which has a parliamentary majority, won power last year promising a return to traditional Catholic values.

In a statement to be read in churches Sunday, Poland's bishops are calling for the protection of human life "from conception to natural death."