Catholic Church leaders perceive dissatisfaction from part of society with the continuing ban on holding church services for the public, the Slovak Bishops' Conference (KBS) spokesman Martin Kramara stated on Thursday, noting that the church has been making efforts for a year to help fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. "We're communicating peace, patience and the observance of anti-epidemic measures. We don't want to add controversy. However, despite requests from bishops, state officials haven't taken into account even a minimum space for individual pastoral ministry," said Kramara, pointing out that the police are also closing churches where no services are held, and this, according to him, is causing great outrage.
Former EU commissioner and current head of the Anton Tunega Foundation board Jan Figel announced on Wednesday that he had filed complaints to the European Court for Human Rights and the Slovak Prosecutor General over the banning of public religious services due to COVID-19 in Slovakia now in force for more than two months. Figel said that he considers this ban a violation of the Constitution and international law concerning religious freedom.
