Suit In Dominican Republic Challenges Concordat With Vatican

In the Dominican Republic today, representatives of the more than 1,600 evangelical churches rallied in front of the Dominican Supreme Court filed an appeal challenging the country's agreement with the Vatican-- known at the Concordat-- according to a report from Dominican Today. The suit claims that the Concordat conflicts with constitutional protection of freedom of conscience and religion. (Dominican Constitution.) The Concordat, signed in 1954, gives the Catholic Church special privileges not granted to other religious organizations, including the use of public funds to underwrite some church expenses and a waiver of customs duties when importing goods. (Background.)