Liechtenstein prelate rejects suggestion of church-state separation

Published: 2004-09-15

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A Catholic Church official in Liechtenstein rejected suggestions that church and state could be separated under reforms initiated by the country's monarchy. "The constitution states that the Catholic Church is the church of this country," said Msgr. Markus Walser, vicar general of Liechtenstein's Vaduz Archdiocese. "Discussions have been under way for 30-40 years about possible changes, but nothing has been decided, and the royal family hasn't altered its opinion on church-state relations," Msgr. Walser said. In mid-August, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein turned over authority for day-to-day affairs to Crown Prince Alois, who said he favored "loosening church-state ties." In an early September telephone interview with Catholic News Service, Msgr. Walser said Catholic leaders would accept "certain changes," but had not been notified of a new policy for the Alpine principality, where women gained full voting rights in 1986.

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