PARLIAMENT BEGINS DEBATE ON RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES BILL

ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament resumed its 18th session on Tuesday by debating a bill on the legal status of religious communities which, according to the justice minister, should ensure the equality of all such communities and make room for religious freedoms in Croatia. The bill envisages establishing a register of religious communities at the Ministry of Justice, Government and Local Self- Government. Those which already have legal person status will register by reporting their seat and assets, while newly- established communities will have to file a registration request. The Justice Ministry can refuse to register new communities if they spread intolerance and discriminate other religious communities and citizens of no faith, if they act against the legal order and public morality. The bill also stipulates the obligation of pre-school institutions to provide religious education, at the request of parents or guardians, which would be separated from the religious teaching carried out in the religious communities themselves. The bill also guarantees the right of religious communities to provide spiritual counselling in hospitals, prisons, and welfare institutions, and stipulates the right to perform services on police and military premises. The bill is an expression of aspirations to make the relationship between the state and the religious communities as mature as possible, said Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic, stressing it was imperative to avoid the creation of a church state or a state religion. The minister said the previous law was vague-worded and not harmonised with the Constitution, which led to confusion as regards new religious communities and movements. (hina) ha