In 2024, the Ministry of Justice allocated 369.544,47 euros for religious communities.
Of that amount, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) received 188.312,31 euros, the Islamic Community was allocated 69.034,67 euros, the Jewish Community was paid 36.303,31 euros, and the Catholic Church received 25.928 euros. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church received 28.564 euros, and the Catholic Church received 25.928 euros.
Last year, the Church of the Gospel of Christ (12.999,03), the Crossroads Evangelical Church (4.503,15) and the “Lighthouse” Christian Center (3.900) also received funds from the Ministry of Justice.
The Government of Montenegro has assisted the Serbian Orthodox Church on various grounds.
The Podgorica-Duklja Eparchy was granted 2.000 euros to provide material assistance for the implementation of the publishing project of a bilingual electronic edition of the book "Orthodox Theological Dictionary of Symbols - A Guide to Prophetic Visions and Dreams".
The request of the Diocese of Budimljansko-Niksicka was also adopted and 14.949,55 euros were paid to provide material assistance for the construction of the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God of the Three Hands in Kličevo near Nikšić and 2.884,91 euros for the renovation and decoration of the Church of the Holy Trinity in the village of Azane, in Petnjica.
The Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral was granted 14.312,05 for the renovation of the Church of Saint Archdeacon Stefan in the village of Dujeva on the Crnojevića River.
The request of the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael for 14.840,50 euros intended for the completion of the construction of the baptistery of Saint Peter the Second Lovcen Seer on Miholjska Prevlaka near Tivat was also adopted.
The parish priest's house received 11.615,60 euros, and the organization of the scientific conference "The Monastery of the Holy Archangel on Prevlaka and the Zeta Metropolis" was supported with 15.664,65 euros.
16.037 euros were allocated for the renovation of the Zlatica Monastery, and slightly more, 21.992 euros, was paid for the renovation of the Dobrska celija Monastery, located near Cetinje, in Dobrsko Selo.
At the request of the Islamic Community in Montenegro, the Ministry of Justice approved 9.000 euros to finance the installation and production of certain parts of the auxiliary building of the Hadži Ismail Mosque in Nikšić.
This ministry assisted in the renovation and construction of religious buildings in the village of Godočelje near Petnjica, the madrasa in Ulcinj, the mosque in Dinoš, the Redžepagića mosque in Plav, and the Vladimir Islamic Center in Ulcinj.
The Jewish community of Montenegro has been granted funds for the celebrations of the religious holidays of Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, but also for the exhibition "The Silence of the Destroyed Walls".
The Montenegrin Orthodox Church received 5.000 euros for the preparation and organization of the Christmas Eve service, 6.000 euros for organizing a Round Table on the topic "The Actual State of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church", 3.000 euros for printing the newspaper "Lučindan", as well as 8.470 euros in aid for the renovation of the Chapel of St. Peter of Cetinje within the Bishop's House in Cetinje.
The Ministry of Justice has approved 24.000 euros for the installation and assembly of an elevator in the Co-Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle and 1.728 euros for a trip to Niš, on the occasion of the performance of the Ecumenical Choir of the Co-Cathedral of Saint Peter in Bar at the Choir Festivities festival.
The Church of the Gospel of Christ was paid 12.999,03 euros for the implementation of the project to adapt the toilets of the second religious building, and the Christian Center "Svetionik" was paid XNUMX euros for the project to equip a space for religious education for children of their religious community.
The Crossroads Evangelical Church received 4.503,15 euros in material assistance for the project to equip its worship space.
"Vijesti" obtained data on payments from the Ministry of Justice to religious communities with the help of the MANS application "Ask the Institutions".
479.543,70 euros from the budget reserve for religious communities
Based on the Government's decision, on March 20, 2024, 60.000 euros were paid from the budget reserve to the Meshihat of the Islamic Religious Community, and then another 200.000 euros in November.
In 2024, 200.000 euros were paid from the budget reserve to the Jewish Community of Montenegro.
As solidarity funds for natural disasters, 19.543,70 euros were paid from the budget reserve to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral in June last year.
1,7 million euros for religious schools
At the beginning of December last year, the government adopted the Information on Support for Secondary Religious Institutions. On this occasion, contracts were accepted on financing secondary religious schools - Medrese "Mehmed Fatih" and Gymnasium "Sveti Sava".
Within the funds allocated by the Budget Law for 2024, 800.000 euros have been allocated for the "Mehmed Fatih" Madrasah, while 900.000 euros have been allocated for the "Sveti Sava" Gymnasium.
Ministry of Justice: laws as a criterion
In 2024, the Ministry of Justice provided material support to religious communities based on the Law on State Administration, the Law on Administrative Procedure, and the Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities, the Ministry of Justice told Vijesti when asked about the criteria used to allocate funds to religious communities.
Based on Article 36 of the Law on State Administration, and in connection with Article 35, paragraph 2 of the Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities and the Report on the Audit of the Regularity of Financing of Religious Communities from the Budget of Montenegro No. 02-035/24-62/52 of 17.10.2024., at the end of 2024., the Ministry of Justice adopted the Rules on the Method of Allocating Material Funds to Religious Communities and Controlling the Legality of the Purposeful Spending of Religious Community Funds from the State Budget, which entered into force on 1.1.2025., the Ministry of Justice points out.
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