Czech MPs have voted through a long-awaited law to allow Churches to reclaim lands and properties seized under Communist rule.Under the new law the Government will return assets valued at £4.3bn that were seized from the Catholic, Reformed, Brethren, Orthodox and Jewish communities, but will stop paying clergy salaries.
Three months ago the law was vetoed by Communists and Social Democrats in the upper house.
Under the new law, 56 per cent of church assets, valued at 75 billion Czech crowns (£2.4bn), are to be returned from January, with 59 billion crowns (£1.9bn) provided in compensation for the rest over a 30-year period, during which an annual government grant to churches will be phased out.
Assets belonging to the Catholic Church are believed to account for around 80 per cent of the total.