A group of Czech churches is protesting a new law they say reflects an attitude to religion reminiscent of the country’s communist past. The tone of the legislation, in effect since January 7, is one of “government hostility toward religion,” say representatives of the denominations. The provision that has generated most protest is one requiring church-run charities and welfare programs to register as independent, taxable organizations.

The law has a number of “defects and deficiencies,” says Karel Nowak, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Czech Republic. “The one that is most objectionable is that under this law churches are not allowed to establish philanthropic organizations and charities as an integral part of the church, but have to register them as separate civic enterprises.”

Although this aspect of the law does not impact the Adventist Church’s humanitarian and welfare organizations in the country, which have long been registered as independent entities, Nowak says that Adventists are protesting the requirement as a matter of principle. 

Nowak points out that there have also been some worrying omissions from the new law, especially from the perspective of a Sabbath-keeping denomination such as the Adventist Church. “What we regret very much is the fact that a paragraph was eliminated which stated that every citizen has the right ‘to observe days of rest . . . in accordance with the precepts of one’s religion or belief.’”

This most recent legislation replaces a religion law passed in 1991, two years after the fall of communism in the country. The Adventist Church in the Czech Republic has a membership of more than 10,000 people. According to Nowak, the church will continue to work with other church groups and the government in advocating principles of religious freedom for all people of faith.