Czechoslovakia: Freedom of religion. Are members of the Catholic religion still persecuted under the new government led by President Havel or has there been a general liberalization under the new government where there is more religious tolerance?
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CSK6055 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Czechoslovakia: Freedom of religion. Are members of the Catholic religion still persecuted under the new government led by President Havel or has there been a general liberalization under the new government where there is more religious tolerance?, 1 June 1990, CSK6055, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac0238.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
One of the first acts of the Havel government in December 1989 was the introduction of regulation n.159/1989 which amended the Czechoslovak Criminal Code by abolishing P101, the article which criminalized the "anti-socialist" activities of priests by sentences of up to six years in prison. [ Monika Rutland, "Human Rights, Politics and the Law in Czechoslovakia since the Fall of the Communist Regime", (Paper delivered to IRB participants, Montreal, 2 May 1990), p. 6. (attached)] In addition, the Roman Catholic Church was permitted to fill vacant bishoprics without gaining prior approval from the government and priests and ministers who had lost their licenses to preach were permitted to return to religious work. [ U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1989 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1990), p. 1083.]
Under a new law on military service, soldiers may practice religion freely and clergy will be given access to military bases. [ Jiri Pehe, "The Postrevolutionary Federal Assembly Holds Its Last Session", RFE/RL Report on Eastern Europe, , Vol. 1, No. 22, 1 June 1990, p. 18. (attached)
] On 23 January 1990, the Federal Assembly passed a provisional law which ended state control over the appointment of Church officials such as priests, ministers and rabbis although it did not change the Church's financial dependency on the state. [ Ibid.]
On 27 March 1990, the Federal Assembly approved a new law on freedom of association which gave all Czechoslovak citizens the right to belong to any interest group they choose. The only requirement was that newly formed organizations register with the authorities. [ Jiri Pehe, "New Laws on Human Rights Adopted", RFE/RL Report on Eastern Europe, , Vol. 1, No. 20, 18 May 1990, p. 11. (attached)]
Czechoslovakia has restored diplomatic relations with the Vatican and Pope John Paul II visited the country on 21 April 1990.
