November 9, 2007

WARSAW – The Czech government has agreed, after almost two decades of dispute, to compensate churches for properties confiscated under communist rule, and also to make them financially independent from the state. "There's a common desire now to solve these problems; what remains are the specific conditions," said Jiri Grecka, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic bishops' conference in the Czech Republic. "If this proposal goes ahead, it will show the state is genuinely willing to co-operate with us and see justice is done for past abuses," Grecka stated. "This will signal a new era."

Ecumenical News International