Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, November 27 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Losing religion, but not so fast
Illustrative image of a mass. (source: TASR)
Following the 2021 census results, the discourse was how quickly churches in Slovakia lose believers and whether the state should contribute to individual churches in the same manner as before.
The data show that between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, the number of people without any religious affiliation had increased significantly from 13.4 percent to 23.8 percent. For example, the Roman Catholic Church, which remains the largest and most influential religious organisation, lost some 300,000 members, a drop from 62 to 56 percent.
However, a new survey by Focus polling agency for scientists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Comenius University show that this is not entirely accurate, reports the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The survey is repeated every 7 to 9 years in the same form with the same questions. A census does not use the same questions; therefore, it is uncertain whether shifts can be attributed to social trends or simply to different methodologies.
Although the new survey results show that while churches do lose believers, it is not as fast as was thought.
In 2024, when asked whether they belonged to any church or religion, 72.3 percent of people answered yes. In 2017, 70.8 percent said yes, meaning a 1.5 percentage point increase. Since 1991, the number has hovered above 70 percent, with the highest number 76.8 percent in 1999.
According to the 2021 census, around 70 percent of people subscribed to a church or religion.
However, the survey shows that what has changed over time is the number of people who do not believe in God, as well as the number of hard atheists. While in 2008 14.3 percent did not believe and 2.9 percent were atheists, in 2017 it was 21.4 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. In the latest survey, the numbers are 23 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
Interestingly, the number of people who want separation of church and state is increasing as well. While in 2014 (a comparable survey) 31.3 percent were in favour of a total separation, in 2024 it was 42.3 percent.
The latest survey was carried out between October 4-21 on a sample of 1,245 people.
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FEATURE STORY
Meet the foreigners in the U18 Slovak hockey team
From left: Michal Jozef Tkac and Lukas Novak. (source: Sportnet)
The under 18 prep hockey project in Slovakia is not entirely comprised of Slovak-born players, a fact not entirely visible even if you were to look at the names of all the players. That is because two overseas players were born to Slovak parents, and the third is from Poland. Meet Michal Jozef Tkac, Lukas Novak and Patryk Zubek, respectively, in this story.
EVENT FOR THURSDAY
What is it like out there without a warm bed
Participants of the symbolic event called Noc Vonku (A Night Out) to call attention to the worsening situation of homeless people. (source: TASR)
Almost one million people in Slovakia live on the income poverty line; more than 43 percent of people cannot afford a meal every day; the number of homeless people has tripled in the last 10 years, exceeding 71,000. To draw attention to these alarming numbers, the 11th edition of the Noc Vonku (A Night Out) symbolic event will take place on Thursday in several towns across Slovakia, including Bratislava, Nitra, Banská Bystrica and Košice. Held by Vagus and other civic associations, everyone is invited to come to selected places and trade their warm beds to try what it is like to sleep outside. For more information, click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
According to a new poll, President Peter Pellegrini is the most trusted politician with 50 percent, followed by Interior Minister and Hlas chair Matúš Šutaj Eštok with 36 percent, Prime Minister and Smer chair Robert Fico with 33 percent, Progressive Slovakia chair Michal Šimečka with 29 percent and SaS chair Branislav Gröhling with 25 percent. The poll was carried out by Focus polling agency between November 6-13 on a sample of 1,018 people. (360tka)
The governing coalition has submitted an amendment to the bill on VAT in an attempt to respond to criticism of the consolidation package. The first change is the expansion of the list of products subject to the reduced 5 percent VAT rate to include gluten-free bread, pastries, flour. Another change focuses on the transaction tax in that it should not be applied to NGOs if their activities fall into one of the defined categories, such as supporting education, protecting human rights, health, developing sports, social assistance, or preserving cultural values. Finally, more than ten types of payment transactions will now be exempt from the tax as well, including payments by health insurance companies for healthcare, central bank operations related to monetary policy, and payments made by bailiffs. MPs will vote on the amendment in the current parliamentary session, and as such is subject to change. (Index)
On Wednesday, some teachers and school employees came to work dressed in black in a protest. It is intended to symbolize an expression of sadness over the financing of Slovak education. (source: TASR)
A Slovak national died when a cruise ship sank in the Red Sea near the Egyptian coast on Monday, November 25, the Egyptian authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that two other Slovak nationals were on board the ship but were rescued. They are currently in the premises of the Slovak Embassy in Cairo, which is providing assistance to and issuing substitute travel documents so that they can get home as soon as possible. The Sea Story cruise ship sank with 45 people on board, most of them tourists. (TASR)
The ski resort Jasná, as well as resorts in the High Tatras, will introduce fees for ski mountaineers. The reason is that ski mountaineers use the slopes of the resorts, but at the same time do not contribute to their maintenance but still ski down them, with some even endangering skiers, says Marián Galajda, spokesperson of the resorts. As of the new year, a one day ticket in the resorts will cost €7. A seasonal ticket with added benefits will be available as well. (TASR)
Maroš Šefčovič, the Slovak Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, has stated that he has no interest in engaging in trade wars with the United States, as he's seeking to further strengthen mutual economic relations, while in the case of China, he is committed to ensuring fair trade conditions for European companies. His first trips as the EU Commissioner will be to the USA and China. (TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, with showers and rain expected in many places, and snow at higher altitudes. Daily temperatures between 2 °C to 9 °C. Level 1 wind warning in the mountains for ranges in central and northern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
NOVEMBER 28 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Henrieta
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