News

The Czech Roman Catholic Church may in future create the country’s first church-owned bank, Czech Television reported on Sunday. Church officials are preparing for a situation under which it will cease to receive state contributions in a decade’s time, the station said.

The České Budějovice bishopric has acquired almost 10 percent of the shares in the Artesa credit union and is now considering whether to become the majority owner. If it does so, it will seek to convert Artesa into the country’s first church bank.

Dioceses are at present investing money in securities, while the Catholic Church has bought two small hospitals in Prague.

In line with a restitution law, church groups have been regaining control of some properties seized under communism. They are also receiving repayments of over CZK 60 billion over a 30-year period for properties that are not being returned.

Eight people were killed after a fire broke out at a care home in the town of Vejprty in Northern Bohemia on Sunday morning. Another 29 people were injured in the blaze, three of them seriously, a spokesperson for the Ústí nad Labem Region rescue services said.

The fire service was called out just before 5 am. The fire was initially reported as being at a senior citizens’ home but in fact occurred at a facility for people with mental and multiple disabilities.

Bad weather meant it was not possible to employ helicopters. Seven rescue teams were sent to the scene, including two from nearby Germany.

The director of Vejprty social services, Viktor Koláček, told Czech Television that the building had suffered little damage and smoke had been the main problem.

The governor of Ústí nad Labem, Oldřich Bubeníček, told the news site iDnes.cz that it was an enormous tragedy, adding that the region would provide assistance and soon as it had more information.

Avian influenza has appeared in the Czech Republic again after a three-year absence, the State Veterinary Administration said on Saturday. An outbreak of the H5N8 virus, which is fatal to birds, was recorded at a small poultry farm by the village of Štěpánov nad Svratkou in Vysočina, officials said.

Twelve hens at the farm were infected with bird flu and half of them died within two days. In line with standard directives, the remaining poultry at the farm has been put down and special veterinary measures have been introduced in the immediate area.

Bird flu has been recorded recently in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania.

Sunday should be overcast in the Czech Republic with temperatures of up to 2 degrees Celsius. The following days are expected to have similar weather, though sunshine is forecast for Tuesday.