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25 November 2005, 16:12Lithuanian Parliament approves the text of an alternative oath without the ‘May God help me’ phrase
Riga, November 25, Interfax - The Lithuanian Sejm has approved an amendment to the oath without the ‘May God help me’ phrase.
Until recently the oath of allegiance for an atheist was accompanied by an additional procedure whereby he or she was to cross out these words from the text of the oath personally and sign the amendment. From now on, two versions of the oath have been legalized - one expressing trust in the Almighty and an alternative one without such expression, the Lithuanian Chas daily writes on Friday.
In making the amendment, the parliament had to amend a series of laws, including those on diplomatic service, court, notariate, procurator’s office, armed forces, etc., featuring the text of the oath.
The initiator of the amendment, Sejm Vice-Speaker Ceslovas Jursenas, said that having supported his idea, ‘the Sejm acted in a European way’.
According to statistics, 70% of the Lithuanian population claim to be believers, while 12% have not decided yet on this matter. Hence, some 18%-atheists of the Lithuanians are atheists. |
