The Accord between the Republic of Slovenia and the Holy See, a significant step towards regularizing relations between Church and State, was ratified by Parliament on 28 January. The Accord, now awaiting ratification by the Holy See, had been signed on 14 December 2001 by Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and by the then Vatican Secretary for relations with States, Msgr. Jean-Louis Tauran. It was then subjected to the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court, which, after two years of deliberation, has now declared its constitutionality. The Accord was ratified by Parliament to the deep satisfaction of Slovene bishops who hope for “the start of a phase of dialogue, reciprocal trust and respect in relations with the State”. But the ban on teaching religion in state schools still remains in force. A collection of signatures by citizens is now underway, pressing for the recognition of the catechism taught in parishes as an optional subject in school curricula.
