KBS: Alternatives to Scrapping 6 January as Public Holiday Needed

Bratislava, 23 September (TASR) - The Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) proposes that an alternative solution should be found to scrapping the public holiday on 6 January [Epiphany] as part of the government's consolidation measures, the KBS press department told TASR on Tuesday, adding that religious holidays on 5 July [St. Cyril and Methodius] or 15 September [the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows] are open for discussion. "As part of discussing the temporary abolishment of a religious holiday as a public holiday, we expect that the wording 'temporary exemption' from the Treaty between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See will be clearly defined. At the same time, we propose seeking another solution rather than abolishing the holiday on 6 January, taking liturgical and theological reasons into account," explained KBS head Bernard Bober. The consolidation package for next year proceeded to its second reading in Parliament last week, with one of the proposed measures being the scrapping of public holidays on certain dates. However, the coalition parties have yet to finalise which public holidays will be cancelled. Agreement has been reached on 8 May [WWII Victory Day] and 17 November [the Velvet Revolution, marking the end of totalitarian regime in erstwhile Czechoslovakia]. The government's proposal includes 6 January as the third such holiday, although 15 September is also under discussion. jrg/df