Czech cardinal presses government for compensation on confiscated church property

September 13, 2012

Cardinal Dominik Duka of Prague is pressing the government of the Czech Republic for a final decision on proposals to compensate the Church for the properties that were confiscated by the country’s Communist regime.

The issue of restitution for Church property has been debated for decades in the Czech Republic. Although successive governments have agreed in principle to compensate the Church, progress toward an agreement has been stymied by the technical details of tracing property ownership, the financial pressures on the government budget, and vocal protests by secularists against proposals that are seen as support for the Church.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Duka sheds light on church restitution controversy (Prague Post)
• Czech Republic to offer compensation for Church property seized by Communist government (CWN, 1/11)