WARSAW, Poland – A Czech cardinal welcomed final court approval of government plans to pay billions of dollars to churches in compensation for their losses under communist rule.
On June 3, the Constitutional Court cleared the way for the implementation of a 2012 law that says 56 percent of assets, valued at $3.8 billion, will be returned to Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish communities, with $3 billion paid out over a 30-year period as compensation for the rest of the properties. During that same period, annual government grants to churches will also be phased out.
“This ruling on the law for property settlements closes one of the infamous chapters in our history,” said Cardinal Dominik Duka of Prague. “Our society can congratulate itself (that) it has finally resolved this problem and remedied the damage done to churches under communism.”
It should be "Prague, Czech Republic", not "Warsaw, Poland".
ReplyDeleteThe court is not in Bohemia.
ReplyDeleteOr the correspondent is based in Warsaw.
ReplyDeleteOn it's face it seems good and reasonable. Only one of the groups mentioned could possibly extend the amount awarded
ReplyDeleteby the court. And I do wonder what the break-down of the
three billions is.
The breakdown will most likely go like this: $48.00 to the Catholics, $56.00 to the Orthodox and $4 Billion to the Jews.
DeleteSchmenz, you seem to have a problem with Jews, but even bigger one with math and logic.....only 3 billion USD will be payed.
DeleteAnon, you didn't read the article did you? Please read before commenting, being belligerent like Kevin O'Brien and don't be making anti-Semitic comments or ill ban your ISP.
DeleteAnonymous 6 June 8:37 AM, I guess you were enjoying
Deleteyour retort to schmenz but you don't seem to know how these things work. schmenz does. I liked his comment. Keep an open mind and keep looking around
and you'll know too.
I don' t care where the correspondent is based, it is misleading. The supreme court is based in Czech republic. It is always better to correct mistakes and say a few words of gratitude than to obstinately remain in error.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you say, Lou Grant. Catholic Snooze Service has a correspondent in Warsaw when it covers these stories and the people who read this blog know where Prague is.
DeleteAnon 6 June 8:35 AM, The post doesn't seem confusing
Deletelet alone misleading. You just need some coffee.
The first words state that the article comes out of
Warsaw.
Anonymous 6 June 8:35 AM,I think Tancred knows who you are and what your two cents are worth.
DeleteAnonymous wrote:
ReplyDelete"Schmenz, you seem to have a problem with Jews, but even bigger one with math and logic.....only 3 billion USD will be payed."
Even though some kind commenters have already replied to you I thought I might weigh in, too, with these short thoughts. You probably don't have an appreciation of Jewish ironic humor, as I do. Jews have a wonderful sense of humor and I would be willing to bet that some Jews would have found my comment quite funny, since they are well aware that in almost every case of the modern Reparations Industry it is their fellow Jews who always come out on top financially (vide the famous shakedown of the Swiss a couple of decades ago, not to mention the on-going terrible reparations being paid by innocent Germans who had absolutely nothing to do with the Nazi regime). The best examples of Jewish "chutzpah humor" come from the Jews themselves.
Do I have a problem with the Jews? Yes, in the same way I have a problem with anyone who rejects Christ and His Church. My "problem" with them is that they are not going to be saved unless they convert to the religion that was first brought to them by the one and only Messiah. Insofar as we can convince Jews to reject the Talmud and their false religion and come into the Church we are practicing true charity, and that same thing applies to Muslims, Protestants, atheists, etc. When Christ told us to go and preach to all nations I don't believe he told us to ignore the people of his own nation. Even though some high-ranking clerical idiots have said words to the contrary we will still, in charity, try to bring these poor people to the only Faith that will save them.
Regarding my apparent lack of math and logic, I used the $4 Billion figure simply by rounding off the $3.8 Billion figure mentioned at the top of the article.
Schmenz, I love Jewish humour, but to read this sort of remark on a traditional Catholic blog is a different issue. You have to take into account the context and in this light you will see how poisonous your comment is towards our brothers. As for the Germany...I believe the country paid its own debt. Perfectly just and appropriate.
ReplyDeleteIf you actually had any arguments, you might be useful as more than just a stool pigeon for the consensus.
DeleteGet lost.
ahahahaha..I just love Catholic humor..ahahaha .
Delete