Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala signed a new agreement that recognizes the self-government of the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic and affirms freedom of conscience, thought and religious practice for all people.
vatican city
Vatican City, Friday, October 25, 2024 (REI, Vatican Radio): Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, signed a new agreement recognizing the right of self- governance of the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic and affirms freedom of conscience, thought and religion for all people.
religious freedom
The 16-article agreement encourages cooperation between the two countries, with the specific purpose of serving “the common good and the spiritual, humanitarian and cultural values of the Czech people.” The document fully guarantees religious freedom and the ability of the Church to carry out its mission.
This bilateral agreement affirms the right to freedom of thought, religion and conscience not only for Catholics but for all people and establishes that religious worship may be regulated by law only when necessary to protect public order, well-being and absolutely necessary to protect the rights of others.
state and church
The new agreement also gives the Catholic Church the right to act by its own rules in the Czech Republic, to govern itself and to independently appoint its own bishops. It also guarantees the right to conscientious objection in relation to military service and healthcare; It also protects the sacred seal of confession.
According to the 2021 census, 10% of the total population of the Czech Republic is Catholic. This agreement strengthens the right of the Church to create its own educational and charitable organizations, to provide medical care and to facilitate pastoral care for the military.
