On Wednesday, June 18, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) approved amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act during its third reading. A key change in these amendments is the extension of the deadline for churches and other institutions to revise their statutes, increasing it from two months to six months.
This was reported by ERR.
At the end of January, a bill regarding churches and parishes was submitted to parliament for consideration. In April, this law, which prompted widespread public outcry, was passed; however, the president did not promulgate it and returned it for revision.
On Wednesday, June 18, the Act on Amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act was approved for the second time.
Parliament removed the prohibition on being guided by a person of significant influence located in a foreign country from the text of the Act, as the president believed this wording could be interpreted too widely.
The revised Act now states that a church or congregation may not be linked on the basis of its statutes or economically to a spiritual center or leader located in a foreign country if such ties pose a threat to Estonia.
The Riigikogu also specified that a potential threat may arise when a spiritual center or governing body incites, supports, or finances activities aimed at violently changing the independence, territorial integrity, or constitutional order of Estonia.
The Act also specifies who can serve as a minister of religion or be a member of the management board of a religious association in Estonia. In addition, the requirements for the statutes of a religious association are specified, and the possibility is created to leave a church whose activities do not meet the requirements established.
For this, the religious associations will have to adopt new statutes without needing approval from the church's governing body, as obtaining such approval may not be realistic.