Profitable Activities of Parishes and Monasteries

Andrej Naglič

Profitable Activities of Parishes and Monasteries

Keywords: churches and other religious communities, religious activities, profitable activities, general exercise of freedom, religious freedo
, free exercise of religious communities

Abstract:
Some Slovenian authorities strictly oppose the possibility that churches and other religious communities are allowed to be engaged in profitable activities in markets, even at minimum level. In their opinion, in the case of churches and other religious communities such operations are not possible to be entered in the Commercial registry of Slovenia. They insist all activities of churches and other religious communities are to be performed exclusively on non-profit or volunteer basis. That means that parishes and monasteries should not be able to sell religious items, souvenirs and prints or rent student rooms and pastoral halls. At least this is supposed to be a stance of Market Inspectorate and Office of Religious Affairs. On the other hand, a theoretical platform, comparative view and positive law on the organization and functioning of churches and other religious communities do not justify such a restrictive interpretation of the principle of free pursuance of activities of religious communities. Such an interpretation of this constitutionally prescribed principle constitutes an interference with the general freedom of act for churches and other religious communities, diminishes the financial sustainability of their internal organization and makes it difficult for them to operate in public-benefit sector.

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