I. Historical Background
During the 9th century Christianity was accepted in the territory of the present Czech lands. The Reformation reached the country in the 16th century and became so successful that the Utraquist (Calixtin) Church had more members than the Catholic Church. During the counterreformation the Czech lands were recatholicised and Protestants had to leave the country. The year 1848 can be seen as the beginning of an emancipation of the Churches from the State. The Constitution of 1920 guaranteed for the first time the freedom of religion to individuals. In the time of the occupation by the Nazis (1939-1945) many members of the Catholic Church opposed the regime. After World War II and the rise of the communism the situation changed completely. Atheism became a sort of a State “religion”. Only the breakdown of the Soviet Union could improve the situation. Freedom of religion and the status of religious groups were from now on guaranteed.
II. Social Facts
The Czech population amounts to 10.3 million people. Most of the people (over 6 million) regard themselves as non-denominational (58.3 % of the population). The Catholic Church has about 2.7 million members and the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren about 117,000 members. There are also a number of smaller Churches with fewer members.
III. Basic Categories of the System
There is no strict separation of Church and State in the Czech Republic. The relationship can be described as a co-operative model. Although the State applies the principle of neutrality, State and Church collaborate in many fields.
IV. Cultural and social exercise of functions
Church schools in the Czech Republic are very popular. In times of Communism it was forbidden to found church schools. Since June 1990 it is permitted. The schools need to be registered by the Ministry of Education. Most of the expenses are covered by the State. Religious education is organised by the church as a non-obligatory subject at all public schools. There are five theological faculties in the Czech Republic.
Two religious private radio stations were founded. There is Proglas, a very popular radio station with a Catholic priest, and The Voice of Hope, a radio station of the Church of the Seventh-Day Adventists. Public television consists of a special board for religious broadcasting including Catholic and Protestant representatives.
V. Legal foundations
The legal sources that describe the relationship between Church and State are mainly Constitutional law, international agreements, the internal state law and Church-State agreements. Articles 15 and 16 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Liberties guarantee religious freedom. This includes the right to attend religious services and the freedom of religious communities to an own administration.
In the Czech Republic 19 religious communities are registered as Churches. These registered religious communities enjoy “special rights”. They can found schools, teach religion in schools, gain State subsidies and have the right to a pastoral care in prisons and the army. There exists the possibility to limit the rights of members of religious communities by internal rules. But in general the members have the same rights as the other citizens.
The Czech family law makes it possible to choose between a religious and a civil form of marriage.
The Churches are financially supported by the State by paying stipend subsidies. The main income sources for religious communities are collections and donations. The State supports the Churches to maintain historic Church buildings. He pays church schools, teachers of religion in public schools and military chaplains.