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Fifth Amendment

Signed 5th Jan, 1973

Removed from the Constitution the special position of the Catholic Church and the recognition of other named religious denominations.

Article Amended

Article 44 After

The text of Article 44 after enacting the Fifth Amendment

Article 44.

…
  1. 1:
    The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.
  2. 2:
    1. 1°:
      Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen.
    2. 2°:
      The State guarantees not to endow any religion.
    3. 3°:
      The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.
    4. 4°:
      Legislation providing State aid for schools shall not discriminate between schools under the management of different religious denominations, nor be such as to affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a school receiving public money without attending religious instruction at that school.
    5. 5°:
      Every religious denomination shall have the right to manage its own affairs, own, acquire and administer property, movable and immovable, and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes.
    6. 6°:
      The property of any religious denomination or any educational institution shall not be diverted save for necessary works of public utility and on payment of compensation.
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