Argentine Bishops End State Funding, Marking a Historic Departure

In a historic move, the Argentine Episcopal Conference (AEC) has finalized its process to cease receiving state funds, a plan initially announced in 2018. This transition, which concluded by December 2023, was carried out by Archbishops, diocesan Bishops, and Auxiliary Bishops in line with the directives of the Plenary Assembly and communicated to the Nation's Secretariat of Worship.

A Step Towards Independence

The renunciation of state funding signifies a significant stride towards increased autonomy from political power. The AEC's decision aligns with a resolution from the Foreign Relations, International Commerce and Worship Ministry. This ruling allows retired Archbishops and Bishops to request a stipend individually under the existing law, currently pegged at 98,000 pesos.

Church Reforms and Financial Implications

The discontinuation of state funding, which summed up to about 130 million pesos annually, forms part of wider Church reforms. These include the Ecclesial Financing Program initiated in July 2020, designed to back pastoral activities through donations. Despite state funds representing a mere 10% of the Church's budget, they held significance for less affluent dioceses.

Church and State: A Contentious Relationship

The state's financial backing proved contentious, hinting at continued support for a specific religion by a non-Confessional State, a remnant from the era of the last dictatorship. This issue came to the forefront during debates over the legalization of abortion in Argentina. Thus, the AEC's decision to stop receiving state funds marks a pivotal point in the relationship between the Church and the state, serving as a testament to the separation of church and state.