Constitutional Court rules against overturning of law blocking restitution of church property

The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic has upheld a law that is blocking the sale of land locked in a restitution battle between church and state. In Monday’s verdict, however, the court urged action, saying that the long-lasting neglect of lawmakers to solve remaining ownership issues between the state and the church is unconstitutional. The ruling judge said that the court did not wish to be dragged into a political battle. The verdict came after a group of senators had tried to push through the cancellation of a law that is blocking Czech towns from selling or building on land locked by a long-standing conflict regarding the restitution of church property.