BRUSSELS: Belgium is expected to officially recognize Buddhism after the federal government on Friday opened the door to federal funding, official representatives and school classes.
Belgian Buddhist Association The recognition was requested in March 2006. The Sangha estimates that there are 150,000 Buddhists in Belgium. The only other EU country where Buddhism is recognized is Austria.
There are currently six officially recognized worship services in Belgium: the roman catholicconservative, IsraeliteAnglican, Protestant Evangelical and Islamic, recognized in 1974.
Buddhism will be recognized as “a non-sectarian philosophical organization” with organized secularism recognized since 2002. It will receive federal funding of up to 1.2 million euros.
voted by once ParliamentThe law would pave the way for the creation of local institutions, sending Buddhist representatives to ports and airports, teaching other worship services in prisons, the military, hospitals, as well as opening Buddhism courses in official education.
All Belgian provinces and the Brussels region would then each have to finance a local Buddhist centre.
Belgian Buddhist Association The recognition was requested in March 2006. The Sangha estimates that there are 150,000 Buddhists in Belgium. The only other EU country where Buddhism is recognized is Austria.
There are currently six officially recognized worship services in Belgium: the roman catholicconservative, IsraeliteAnglican, Protestant Evangelical and Islamic, recognized in 1974.
Buddhism will be recognized as “a non-sectarian philosophical organization” with organized secularism recognized since 2002. It will receive federal funding of up to 1.2 million euros.
voted by once ParliamentThe law would pave the way for the creation of local institutions, sending Buddhist representatives to ports and airports, teaching other worship services in prisons, the military, hospitals, as well as opening Buddhism courses in official education.
All Belgian provinces and the Brussels region would then each have to finance a local Buddhist centre.
,
- Advertisement -
