ROBERT Fico, leader of the non-parliamentary Smer party, has come up with a novel idea to stop the declining number of Sunday churchgoers - hold masses in supermarkets.
Fico came up with the idea in response to growing protests from the Church over Sunday shopping in Slovakia.
Fico says he wants supermarkets to turn over part of their shopping floors to priests every Sunday.
"That way believers can save time, and by hearing the words of the priest they can shop in peace," said the Smer leader.
Last Sunday, church leaders throughout the country urged congregations to support them in their fight to get more people in church on Sundays and out of shops. Clergymen want shops to stay shut on the Christian Sabbath - a move which local businessmen say would not bring more people to worship anyway.
