A good result for everyone ” “

“Our aim is not to get rich through the property composition between Churches and the state. Just the financial system will change the way that the tax payers will not contribute to funding of the Catholic Church anymore and the money gained within the property composition will be invested in the services to a man, his spiritual and material development”, reads one of the numerous statements of the Czech Bishops´conference regarding the process of the restitution of property to Churches and religious associations. The respective law, approved in the Czech republic in 2012, has provoked various reactions both in political and public circles, many of them critical and disapproving. The Bishops´conference has been doing its utmost to answer every single question in this regard. A special website www.sluzbaverejnosti.cz was launched several months ago, where the representatives of the Church speak not only about financial matters but also about the matters of “Christian solidarity”. Benefits for all. “Many people may not realize it yet, but the property composition between Churches and the state is a good thing for all”, says Mons. TomᚠHolub, general secretary of the Czech bishops´conference. “Good for municipalities, because it will let them continue with their development. Many buildings and locations have been blocked for decades due to unsettled property rights. Good for those who benefit from social services and educational institutions run by the Church, as they will remain available in a full range. Good for the Churches themselves, for they will be able to use their own financial sources for fulfillment of their mission in the society”, explains Mons. Holub. Total amount of money to be gradually restituted to the Catholic Church is 134 billions CZK (5,36 billion EUR). “It is necessary to realize that it´s not a gift for the Churches but a mutual exchange of the property”, emphasizes cardinal Dominik Duka, president of the Bishops´conference. General secretary mentions also the maintenance and necessary reconstruction of churches, convents and other religious monuments that not only represent an important part of the Czech national identity and culture, but as pilgrimage places and tourist destinations they are a significant source of money for the state budget. Facts and figures. The law sets out the compensation in two parts: 75 billion CZK will be returned in a form of property and 59 billion in a form of money. Hand in hand with restitutions there comes the issue of funding of the Catholic Church from the state budget, currently amounting to about 1% and due to lower annually in the following 17 years. “The Church needs to be self-sufficient. Not just to satisfy its own needs but first of all to be able to help thousands people in need, in accordance with the social teaching so close to pope Francis”, underlines the general secretary. What will the property composition change in the life of citizens of the Czech republic, including those are not members of any Church or religious association? “There will be practically no change. During a long-time process, the Churches will take over the property belonging to them on the base of valid historical documents, and they will use it for funding of their existence and services”, explains the Czech Bishops´conference. The precious art pieces belonging to the Church and exhibited in museums and galleries all around the country will remain there to be admired by the visitors. “Our only effort in this area is to clear the property rights and regulate the mutual relations by official agreements”, say the representatives of the Augustinian Order owning two paintings by Rubens, currently hanging in the National Gallery in Prague. Responsible management. An expert commission consisting of representatives of Churches, religious associations and political circles has been founded to improve the awareness of public about economic issues in regard to the property composition and to settle disputable areas. To ensure an efficient investment of the money, the Bishops´conference has decided to establish a “fund of qualified investors” to manage a part of their financial assets. The CSOB Asset Management joint stock company has been chosen as a partner of the Church for preparation and management of the fund. “The Catholic dioceses will gain a tool that will enable them to use effectively financial markets aimed at evaluation of their cash reserves and the money obtained as a refund within the project of property composition”, explains the website of the Bishops´conference, emphasizing that the aim of the fund will be to capitalize the money to ensure a quality funding of pastoral and charitable activities. “We hope to implement a conservative investment strategy fully compatible with needs of the Church, which means an emphasis on ethical norms and Christian values”, explains Mons. TomᚠHolub. The process of preparation of the fund should be finished in spring this year.