wfn.org | Liechtenstein: Prince for Separation of Church and State

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

March 5, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Liechtenstein: Prince in Favour of Separation of Church and 
State 

Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein, [APD/LV]  Prince Hans-
Adam II. once again spoke up for a clear separation of 
church and state in this year's speech from the throne at 
the occasion of the opening of parliament on February 3, 
1999. 

According to the largest daily newspaper of the Principality 
of Liechtenstein, the "Liechtensteiner Vaterland", the 
Prince called upon parliament to regulate the relationship 
between church and state in a new way, but he considered 
it hardly promising to clarify the situation of the 
archbishopric with a concordat. This, especially, because of 
two reasons. First, one had to expect that a concordat 
would not fulfil the hopes of parliament to have a say in 
the archbishopric. Secondly, the pope would act in 
contradiction to the resolutions of the Second Vatican 
Council if he were to give the state a say in personal and 
organisational issues or questions of faith. 

Prince Hans-Adam II suggested to parliament to charge 
the constitutional or another commission with the task of 
working towards a solution for the future relationship 
between church and state. The Prince strongly refuted the 
fear that, in case of a separation, the Roman Catholic 
Church would no longer financially depend on the state but 
on the Prince: "The notion that the Prince would be able to 
influence the Catholic Church with donations is not 
realistic."

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy in Central 
Europe, between Austria and Switzerland. Christianity in the
country dates from the fourth century. Catholicism is the
state religion but religious freedom for all is guaranteed
by law.