“We are delighted by this ratification. It’s not a question of privileges granted to the Catholic Church, but an important step in the direction of the common good of all citizens”. That’s the first reaction of Slovak bishops, expressed through their spokesman, Msgr. Marian Gavenda, to the news of the exchange of the instruments of ratification of the Accord between the Holy See and the Republic of Slovakia; the ceremony took place in Bratislava on 9 July. The Accord had been signed in the Slovak capital on 13 May. “The Accord Gavenda explained to SIR introduces the teaching of Catholic religion in schools, beginning with lower primary school, and the teaching of ethics as an alternative for non-Christians. It also establishes the funding of Catholic schools on a par with state schools and financial aid to the Catholic University and other university centres. The Accord also authorises the Church to open nursery schools and kindergartens. With the entry into force of the Accord all the activity of the Church in the field of education is recognized and guaranteed, in response to the tendencies that are pressing for the marginalizatin of religion in schools”. “Concurrently with its Accord with the Holy See concludes Msgr. Gavenda the Slovak Republic has also proceeded to the ratification of its agreements with other Christian faiths represented in the ecumenical Council of Churches”.
