Czech Parliament Passes Restitution To Churches For Nationalized Property

According to BosNewsLife yesterday, the Czech Parliament has approved a plan to provide restitution to churches whose property was nationalized after the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948. Negotiations over the claims have been going on for several years. (See prior posting.) Under the legislation, churches will receive property and compensation totaling $7 billion over 30 years. Among the property that will be returned is some 6% of the country's forests and fields that once belonged to Christian churches. The bill now goes to President Vaclav Klaus for his signature, but he has expressed reservations about the legislation. However the bill received enough votes so that any veto is likely to be overridden.