The Czech Republic has signed a treaty with the Vatican guaranteeing spiritual freedom and recognizing Catholic marriages. It wants parliamentary approval to take impact.
The Czech Republic signed a treaty on its relations with the Vatican on Thursday, changing into one of many final European Union international locations to take action.
The doc was signed on Thursday in Prague by conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Fiala outlined it as a “balanced” doc that “absolutely respects our authorized system”. The full textual content just isn’t anticipated to be made public till after the treaty has been ratified.
Among its provisions, the nation ensures freedom of thought, conscience and non secular perception and acknowledges Catholic marriages. It additionally offers a authorized foundation for the Catholic Church to supply spiritual companies in hospitals, prisons, the army and police forces.
To enter into drive, the doc will nonetheless need to be accredited by each homes of Parliament and ratified by President Petr Pavel.
The Vatican has signed the same treaty with 25 EU member states and a complete of 64 international locations all over the world, the Czech authorities mentioned.
Fiala’s coalition authorities, which was sworn in after the 2021 normal election, mentioned in its political declaration that it was prepared to barter and approve such a treaty.
The decrease home of Parliament rejected the treaty in 2003, saying that the Catholic Church would obtain preferential remedy over different church buildings and that it might be disadvantageous for the nation, thought-about probably the most atheistic within the European Union.
