• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Czech Republic - Religion

The country has an area of 999 square miles and a population of 460,000. The country is historically Roman Catholic, and Catholicism remains the predominant faith. According to a 1979 law, the Government may not collect or maintain statistics on religious affiliation; however, the Ministry of Religious Affairs estimates that more than 90 percent of the population is Catholic. The Lutheran and Calvinist churches are the largest Protestant denominations; Anglicans are also present. The local press estimates that there are 9,000 Muslims; 5,000 Orthodox Christians (Greek, Serbian, Russian, and Romanian); and 1,000 Jews. The Baha'i Faith, the Universal Church, and Jehovah's Witnesses are represented in smaller numbers. There is a small Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) community, established in 2000, in Dommeldange.

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion. The law at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. There is no state religion; however, based on the Concordat of 1801, some churches receive financial support from the state. The Constitution specifically provides for state payment of salaries and pensions of clergy of those religious groups that sign conventions (agreements) negotiated with the Government. The following religious groups receive such support: Catholic; Greek, Russian, Romanian, and Serbian Orthodox; Anglican; the Reformed Protestant Church of Luxembourg; the Protestant Church of Luxembourg; and Jewish congregations.

The Government chose a dual-track approach on approval of a Muslim Convention law and its implementing statutes, incorporating statutes proposed by the Islamic Center Councils, and also a parliamentary bill on a Muslim Convention. In January 2008 four of the five Islamic Center Councils approved statutes and submitted them to Parliament. In 2007 Parliament had taken up a bill on a Muslim convention. At the same time, the "Shuura," an11-member committee representing the Muslim community, submitted its proposed statutes--detailing the procedural operations of the Muslim community, including the selection of the mufti and imams--to the country's five Islamic Center Councils for approval.

It was not known when Parliament would resume action on the Convention. During the previous reporting period, the Government drafted a convention approved by the Cabinet and submitted it to the "Shuura" for its consideration.

The Muslim community first submitted an application for financial support from the Government approximately one decade ago, although it was not until late 2003 that the Muslim community named a national representative and single interlocutor that would allow discussions on its convention to proceed. However, in 2008 this interlocutor resigned for personal reasons. He was not replaced, and the convention process slowed.

The Government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Shrove Monday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Assumption Day, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Christmas, and the second day of Christmas.

There is a long tradition of religious education in public schools. A 1997 convention between the Minister of National Education and the Catholic archbishop governs religious instruction. In accordance with this convention, religious instruction is a local matter, coordinated at the communal level (there are 116 communes which regulate local affairs) between representatives of the Catholic Church and communal authorities. There are government-salaried religious instructors at all levels of public school. Parents and pupils may choose between instruction in Catholicism or an ethics course. Schools grant exemption from this instruction on an individual basis. Approximately 81 percent of primary school pupils and 57 percent of high school students choose religious instruction.

The Government subsidizes all public schools and also private religious schools whose religious group has signed a convention with the state. The Government also subsidizes a Catholic seminary.