Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - 16:00h

Religious centres

Regional map of places of worship
Bill approved regarding centres of worship or religious gathering

The Government has approved the Bill of law regarding centres of worship or religious gathering. This new regulation is aimed at guaranteeing the right to freedom of worship, giving support to the local administrations when facilitating the exercising of this right and ensuring proper conditions of safety, hygiene and dignity on these premises and, also, avoiding problems for third parties.

By applying this law, the Government also wishes to put an end to the current legal void that has led to inconsistent criteria when granting licences.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Bill rules that it shall be compulsory for municipal urban planning to set aside land classified as community facilities systems on which to allow or allocate use for religious purposes. In order to assign the land, urban development law shall apply and the ordinary procedures shall be used to authorise the religious confessions to participate in the process for allocation spaces.

The Law also stipulates that the administration shall guarantee equal, non-discriminatory treatment in granting and authorising the use of equipment and public spaces or occupying public thoroughfares for sporadic activities carried out for religious purposes.