“A surprising signal”, that’s how the spokesman of the Slovak Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Marian Gavenda, judges Parliament’s ratification of the accord between the Holy See and the Slovak Republic on Catholic teaching in schools. The ratification he said comes “at a time of strong tension and division between the parties that might herald a possible collapse of the government”. “This was the first act of the Slovak Parliament in this new year Gavenda commented to SIR -. The approval of the accord occurred on the afternoon of 20 January with 95 votes in favour, 30 against and 18 abstentions. It’s a surprising signal, because both majority and opposition voted together”. The agreement on Catholic teaching, explained the spokesman, “is one of the four points, the others being military service, conscientious objection and Church funding, comprised by the basic Accord between the Holy See and Slovakia, signed in 2000”. The accord makes provision for the introduction of the teaching of Catholic religion in schools (though with ethics as an alternative). ‘Religion’ may therefore be taught in state schools, in those classes in which at least 12 students have requested it. The accord also guarantees the funding of Catholic schools.
