Cardinal says he is delighted about Czech cathedral court ruling

Published: 2006-07-05

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (CNS) -- A cardinal from the Czech Republic said he was delighted over a court ruling that confirms church ownership of a Prague cathedral after a 13-year dispute with the state. "The church possessed this building until it was illegally taken away by the communist regime," said Cardinal Miloslav Vlk of Prague. "We are delighted with this judgment, since we believe it's the only just one. The court has now again decided according to the law." In mid-June, the Prague Municipal Court ruled that the hilltop St. Vitus Cathedral and surrounding properties belonged to the Catholic Church. In a statement on the bishops' conference Web site, the cardinal said the judgment should be viewed as an "appropriate final decision." Cardinal Vlk said: "Churches should belong to the church, especially in the case of a cathedral. The church must look after it well, and I believe judging by past experience it will. But this particular monument also undoubtedly belongs to the national heritage. So we must all share responsibility for it."

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