Hindus, Muslims from India may benefit; and a comment - Observer of Business & Politics

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THE Portuguese Parliamen't is considering a legislative plan to
provide equality before law to all religions that would benefit
both the Hindu and Muslim communities of Indian origin.

The new judicial status, if approved, would grant to all religions
exemption from taxes, right to religious publicity in official
media and religious assistance in military service and civil
recognition of weddings under all religions.

So far all these privileges werb restricted only to the Catholic
Church, which is likely to have some reservations on the proposed
law. As of now, even the choice of a name for a new-born is
controlled by the state list that does not respect cultural and
religious differences.

Portugal's Hindu community, registered as a charitable trust since
1982, with a membership exceeding 8,000, can also look forward with
enthusiasm to the outcome of the proposed legislative measure. The
community is in the process of building in Lisbon a large
temple-cum-cultural complex which has received state support on the
basis of it being an ethnic minority.

Portugal's Muslim community of Indian origin, almost equal in size
as its Hindu counterpart, would also benefit from the proposed
reform.

In 1759 and in 1834, Portugal, banished the religious Catholic
orders, and the proclamation of the republic in 1910 brought about
a separation of the state and religion to the point of the state
adopting an anti-clerical posture and confiscating church
properties. It was the 'new state' of former Portuguese dictator
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, who ruled during 1932-68, that brought
the institutional Catholic church back into the centre of national
politics.

A 'concordat' signed with the Vatican in 1940 was a high water mark
of this process. A concordat is a formal agreemdnt, specifically
between the Pope in his spiritual capacity and the temporal
authority of a State. This concordat has been severely weakened by
the consequences of decolonization and recent changes in the
Catholic church worldwide. But the weight of the Catholic church
continues to be felt in Portuguese society and politics. Ruling
politicians can only ignore this fact at their own risk.

This also explains why even the socialist government could not
press through with the legislation for liberalisation of abortion a
few weeks ago, some political observers here felt.

COMMENT:
There is a clear admission that Portugal was not a secular country.

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