Vatican City, Jan 15, 2009 / 09:32 am
An agreement between the Holy See and one of Germany’s federal states was made public on Wednesday afternoon. The agreement creates an understanding about the operation of Catholic schools, hospitals and other Church entities.
The agreement, which officially recognizes the role of the Church in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein was signed on January 12 in Kiel, Germany. Archbishop Jean-Claude Perisset, apostolic nuncio to Germany, signed for the Holy See and Peter Harry Carstensen, the minister-president of Schleswig-Holstein, signed for the state.
A communiqué issued by the Vatican’s press office says that, “Among other things it establishes norms for the teaching of Catholic religion in State schools; State recognition of Church-run schools; university education; Church activity in the fields of pastoral care, social work, healthcare and charity; ecclesiastical tax and the maintenance of church buildings which have the status of monuments.”
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of Germany’s 16 states and is located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.