Romuva, a religious association that practices an ancient Baltic pagan faith, will seek state financial support after getting state recognition.
Jonas Vaiškūnas, the community’s high priest, says the existing Law on Religious Communities and Associations states that all religious communities and associations with legal entity rights are entitled to state support for culture, education, and charity.
“However, this law does not work. [...] The circular signed by then Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė clearly states that only traditional religious communities are to be supported when announcing funding projects for NGOs and religious communities and associations,” Vaiškūnas told a press conference at the Seimas on Tuesday.
According to the law, the state recognises nine traditional religious communities and associations that are part of Lithuania’s historical, spiritual, and social heritage, and they include the Latin Catholic, Greek Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformed, Orthodox, Old Believers, Jewish, Sunni and Karaite Muslims.
“Laws, if they exist, must work. We will be asking for the circular, which expires in 2025, to be changed,” Vaiškūnas said.
In his words, Romuva has no plans to seek the status of a traditional religious community.
“We are a traditional religious community. Can there be anything more traditional in Lithuania? We are traditional without any documents. And it should not be a goal to achieve the status of a traditional community because there is no law that gives traditional religious communities more rights than other recognised ones,” the high priest said.
Last week, the Seimas of Lithuania voted in favour of granting Romuva state recognition. With it, Romuva is entitled to a land tax exemption, its priests will be covered by social insurance, and its marriages will be treated the same as those conducted in civil registration offices.
Founded in the 20th century, Romuva is the largest neo-pagan religious community in Lithuania. It bases its beliefs on the Baltic religious tradition, which includes Lithuanian, Latvian, and Prussian religious heritage.
Some 5,100 people identified themselves as belonging to the old Baltic faith in 2011, up from 1,200 in the 2001 census.
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