Czech Catholics should send one percent of their monthly income to the Roman Catholic Church even if the state and the churches finally agree on compensation for church property confiscated under the communist regime, Minister Cyril Svoboda (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) said.Svoboda, chairman of the Government Legislative Council, said in his Prague lecture it was important that the contribution be voluntary, not compulsory for church members like in Austria.
The state proposes that 83 billion crowns be paid to churches for the property confiscated by the state under the previous regime.
Monastic orders and congregations could be returned the property in kind, while churches and religious communities would get flat financial compensations for the property that cannot be returned, paid out over a period of 60 to 70 years. The government is to discuss the property settlement in December.
Svoboda said compensation for confiscated property was an "act of justice," while a regular contribution from the believers would be an expression of their effort to "find a new face" and evidence that they can provide for themselves.
But neither the junior ruling Christian Democrats, nor Czech Bishops' Conference head Jan Graubner support Svoboda's proposal.
Svoboda who was KDU-CSL leader in the past said it was only his personal view, and no political initiative.
He said Czech Protestants pay their churches 3 to 5 percent of their incomes. "Some 60 percent of them contribute," Svoboda said.
He said Czech and Belgian Catholic churches are the only ones in Europe that rely on incomes from the state.
"Opinion polls show that Czech society considers the Catholic Church unattractive and this needs to be changed," he said.
Svoboda also said the Czech Republic needs to sign a treaty with the Vatican.
When Svoboda was foreign minister in the previous election term, he clashed with President Vaclav Klaus over the draft treaty. Klaus said in 2004 he would not sign the treaty as he considered it disadvantageous for the Czech Republic.
Culture Minister Vaclav Jehlicka (KDU-CSL) said in January that no new version of the treaty should be drawn up. He said there seemed to be no solution but to try to push through the existing version in the parliament.
Jehlicka said he considered the text regulating the position of the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic churches in the Czech Republic good.
Svoboda said today Klaus should say whether he would sign the treaty if it is passed by the parliament.
"This would be an important signal for the senators and the deputies," he said, referring to the presidential election in February in which Klaus wants to defend his post.
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