Church and State in Luxembourg to separate

The Catholic Church in Lux­em­­bourg has signed an historic agreement with the Grand Duchy’s centre-left Government, phasing in full Church-State separation over the next two decades, writes Jonathan Luxmoore.

“This is a compromise the Church can live with,” Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich said. “It’s cost us dearly and contains hurtful points” but avoided a “culture war”.

The 19-article convention ­guarantees the right of religious associations to act “freely and publicly” but phases out state subsidies by 2035.