Sample Record for Search: World News Connection
(FBIS Transcribed Text) Slovak churches request more money from the state
Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK
Bratislava, 5 May: Higher pay for the clergy was the primary theme at a recent meeting between Slovak Culture Minister Rudolf Chmel and representatives of churches and religious organizations, the first such meeting held since the new government took office in the autumn of 2002. In an intergovernmental treaty with the Vatican, Slovakia asserted that it would address all open questions surrounding religious matters through specific agreements. Roman Catholic bishop Rudolf Balaz, though, complained to journalists that the financial agreement "was frozen somewhere in the unknown", as a result of "incredibly difficult communications" with the officials in charge. For this reason, Balaz asked Chmel if he could arrange a meeting with Finance Minister Ivan Miklos, fearing that further delays would only spark "gossip" against the church. "I am the bishop of an entire diocese, and I receive 13,200 (Slovak) korunas" per month, Balaz said, indicating that his wages are practically the calculated(Description of Source: Prague CTK in English -- principal press agency) THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.
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AFS Document Number: EUP20030505000102
City/Source: Prague CTK
FBIS Document Number: FBIS-EEU-2003-0505
Geographic Names: East Europe; Czech Republic; Slovakia
NewsEdge Document Number: 200305061477.1_cbb5001377ed5059
Original Source Language: English
Region: East Europe
WNC Document Number: 0hegtto008bwx2
WNC Insert Date: May 6, 2003
World News Connection
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Dialog® File Number 985 Accession Number 170600279