Czech Republic: Adventists Continue to Seek Own Agreement With State
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"I am persuaded that, if the state signs an agreement with the Roman Catholic Church, the government of the Czech Republic should sign a similar agreement with all recognized churches who would wish to do so," declared Pastor Karel Nowak, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Czecho-Slovakian region, following a meeting with government officials Oct. 22. |
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Karel Nowak, president of the Adventist Church in the Czecho-Slovakian region.
"I am persuaded that, if the state signs an agreement with the Roman Catholic Church, the government of the Czech Republic should sign a similar agreement with all recognized churches who would wish to do so," declared Pastor Karel Nowak, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Czecho-Slovakian region, following a meeting with government officials Oct. 22.
Leading that meeting was Czech Republic foreign minister Cyril Svoboda, who assured Nowak and other delegates from several Protestant and Orthodox communities that the agreement, or concordat, with the Vatican State would not abridge rights for other churches. He explained that the pact does not put Catholics at an advantage in society, nor does it discriminate against non-Catholics.
The explanation seemed adequate for many of the 22 representatives of different denominations at the meeting. Some in the group said they were satisfied with the protections specified in existing law, while others, including Nowak, would wish to have a more formal agreement.
"I am convinced that all churches and religious communities should have the same rights and responsibilities toward the society represented by the state," Nowak said.
"The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Czech Republic is not a member of the national ecumenical council or any similar organization," he explained. "We have accepted the status of observer in that council. We systematically endeavor to have the best possible relations with all churches and religious communities in the country. Our position also is that the state should sign an agreement with individual churches and not with the Ecumenical Council."
More than 9,900 Adventists worship weekly in over 220 congregations in the Czecho-Slovakian region.
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