The Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) is awaiting an official request from Slovakia to the Holy See, pointing to an international treaty, said the KBS press office in connection with the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which might be suspended as a day of rest.
"KBS hasn't received an official request from the government to express its proposal for the temporary cancellation of church holidays, specifically on September 15, in the sense of applying an exception from the International Treaty between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See, as September 15 is one of the holidays anchored in the treaty as a day of rest," said KBS.
The bishops added that they expect Slovakia to make an official request to the Holy See, as the treaty can be amended by mutual agreement of the parties to it. "Amendments must be made in writing," they added.
Instead of January 6 next year, September 15 is set to be a public holiday whose status as a day off work will be suspended, according to an amendment presented by MP Daniel Karas (Smer-SD) during the debate on the package of consolidation measures in Parliament on Tuesday (September 23). A restriction on days off work forms part of the austerity or so-called consolidation package, and the government plans to raise additional money for the budget in this way. The government's austerity package was passed by Parliament earlier this week. It includes the temporary scrapping of September 15 and May 8 public holidays and the permanent scrapping of November 17.
Source: TASR
