Although freedoms were guaranteed in Yugoslavia in the war-time declarations of the Partisans and in every Constitution promulgated after the War, the early post-war years were very harsh. It was not until 1953 when the first federal law on the legal status of communities was passed that the Churches and individual believers began to feel some assurance that they could appeal to the law for the defence of their rights. This assurance grew slowly, but by the middle '60s, and particularly by 1965 when the 1953 law was amended and one or two harsh provisions were removed, the situation was much more favourable for believers. * The new Constitution of 1974 reaffirmed (Art. 174) the provisions concerning communities and religion already laid down in the 1965 Constitution (Art. 46) and before that in the 1945 Constitution, but provided that individual republics and provinces should pass separate enabling laws to take the place of the earlier federal law. Draft laws were published by all the republics in 1975-76 and have now all been enacted. All the drafts were submitted for public discussion in which the communities were invited to take part, an opportunity which the Catholic and Ofthodox Churches in particular took up with vigour. The communities were given certain guarantees in the Constitution: the profession of religion is free and an individual's private affair; no one may be either forced to or prevented from joining a community; they are separated from the State and are free to carry out services and rites and concern themselves with religious affairs (a term which has never been precisely defined). All-religious communities I have equal status before the law; they are legal persons and may own real estate within the limits determined by law. The social community maynot shall-provide financial help to communities. The abuse of religion and activities for political purposes is unconstitutional,