Abstract

Church registration represents a legitimate instrument of surveillance over religious groups. In the Slovak Republic, registered churches are funded directly out of the State budget and dispose of a wide range of other financial, as well as non-financial benefits. Slovakia has recently tightened up the already strict registration criterion of a number of supporters. According to the currently effective legislation, a church or religious society applying for registration must provide evidence of having over 50,000 members. The main aim of this article is to analyse the impact of the new Slovak legislation on the freedom of religion with a focus on assessment of whether the rang of rights and duties for registered churches are the same as for not registered ones and whether this measure is in conformity with human rights standards applied in the European Union, as well as the Council of Europe.

Highlights

  • Increasing religious diversity within societies all around the Globe cannot be overlooked

  • The main aim of this article is to analyse the impact of the new Slovak legislation on the freedom of religion with a focus on assessment of whether the range of rights and duties for registered churches are the same as for not registered ones and whether this measure is in conformity with human rights standards applied in the European Union, as well as the Council of Europe

  • The new amendment of the Slovak law is clearly unfounded, unnecessary, inappropriate, discriminatory against minority religions and in conflict with European human rights standards

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Summary

Introduction

Increasing religious diversity within societies all around the Globe cannot be overlooked This phenomenon is mainly caused by migration of ethnic and religious groups seeking better opportunities or fleeing persecution or war in their home countries.[2]. The Slovak Republic is one of several European countries in which registered Churches and religious societies are funded directly out of the State budget. The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of the new Slovak legislation on the freedom of religion with a focus on assessment of whether the range of rights and duties for registered churches are the same as for not registered ones and whether this measure is in conformity with the European human rights protection instruments

The Role of Religion in the Slovak Republic
The Legal Background of Religious Registration Processes
The Importance of Accessible Religious Registration
Non-economic benefits of Church registration
Financial benefits of Church registration
Assessment of the Amendment with Regards to European Human Rights Standards
Findings
Conclusions

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