ACCORD BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND STATE OF BRANDENBURG

VATICAN CITY, NOV 13, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday in Potsdam, Federal Republic of Germany, the Holy See and the state of Brandenburg signed an accord which regulates the relations between the Catholic Church and the state.

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, apostolic nuncio in Germany, and Mattias Platzeck, president minister, signed the treaty for their respective states, the Holy See and Brandenburg.

'The present accord,' reads a communique made public today, 'departing from agreements with the German Reich and Prussia which are still in force ' and acknowledging the reciprocal independence of Church and State and their desire for mutual cooperation, gives a permanent code to the relations between the Catholic church and the state.'

'The twenty-five articles in the accord and related final protocol regulate various aspects of these relations, such as religious freedom and the juridical state of the Catholic Church in civil society; its freedom of activity in the cultural, educational, pastoral and charitable fields; its presence in social communication, hospitals and clinics, in preventative institutions and prisons; its responsibility for the preservation of ecclesiastical monuments; the collection of the Church tithe; financial assistance from the state for the Church. The teaching of Catholic religion in public schools and the ecclesiastical management of schools and institutions of formation at all levels will also be regulated.'
Keys: ;ACCORD BRANDENBURG;...;LAJOLO; PLATZECK ;VIS;20031113;Word: 240;