KBS Awaits Slovakia's Request to Holy See in Connection with 15 September

Bratislava, 25 September (TASR) - The Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) is awaiting an official request from Slovakia to the Holy See, pointing to an international treaty, TASR was told by the KBS press office in connection with the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which might be suspended as a day of rest. "KBS hasn't received an official request from the government to express its proposal for the temporary cancellation of church holidays, specifically on 15 September, in the sense of applying an exception from the International Treaty between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See, as 15 September is one of the holidays anchored in the treaty as a day of rest," said KBS. The bishops added that they expect Slovakia to make an official request to the Holy See, as the treaty can be amended by mutual agreement of the parties to it. "Amendments must be made in writing," they added. Instead of 6 January next year, 15 September is set to be a public holiday whose status as a day off work will be suspended, according to an amendment presented by MP Daniel Karas (Smer-SD) during the debate on the package of consolidation measures in Parliament on Tuesday (23 September). A restriction on days off work forms part of the consolidation package, and the government plans to raise additional money for the budget in this way. The government's draft law, which was discussed in Parliament, proposed the temporary scrapping of time off work on 6 January and 8 May and the permanent scrapping of 17 November. MPs will decide on the final form of the legislation in the coming days, debating it via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. am/df