Hungary’s President to sign Constitutional Modification

Hungarian President János Áder announced Wednesday night in a public television address that he will sign the fourth amendment to the Constitution, which was accepted in Parliament Monday afternoon by 265 votes to 11 with 33 abstentions.

An Ecumenical Response to Annulment of Hungarian Church Law

The Ecumenical Council of Churches in Hungary released a statement on behalf of its member churches in response the Constitutional Court's decision on 26 February that annulled the Law on the Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion, and on Churches, Religions and Religious Communities.

Current Hungarian Church Law Found Unconstitutional

Today in its plenary session, the Constitutional Court declared provisions from the Law on the Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion, and on Churches, Religions and Religious Communities, passed in 2011, unconstitutional and annulled the provisions with a retroactive effect. This decision comes after the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights and 17 petitioner churches challenged the procedural provisions and recognition of churches. They argued that the provisions of the Law violates the neutrality of state as well as freedom of religion and causes discrimination among churches.

Amendments In Church Law – The Door Is Open For New Applicants