Slovak bishops welcome amendment defining marriage as union of man and woman

Rome, Italy, Sep 30, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).

Slovakia’s recently-amended constitution, which aims to protect family, marriage, and parenthood, has been well-received by the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia (KBS).

“Slovakia sent a signal that it wishes to strengthen a society based on the values of truth, freedom, justice, and the dignity of human life,” said the chairman of the KBS, Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice.

Bober called it an “important step” and, on behalf of all the bishops, thanked those who voted for the amendment as well as those who publicly supported it.

“Despite the fact that our society is going through a difficult time and is often divided on many issues, it is encouraging to see that we can also discover what unites us,” Bishop František Trstenský of Spiš wrote on Facebook.

Marriage and family are the fundamental community on which the development of society is based, Trstenský continued, quoting St. John Paul II: “Marriage and family are among the most precious human values.”

Likewise, Christian associations under the umbrella of “The Forum of Christian Institutions” (FKI) see the change positively but expressed some confusion.

“The adopted changes are in line with the values held by Christian organizations, but it is sad that such clear and natural things have to be defined in society through law and the constitution,” FKI Chairman Pavol Kossey said.

Parliamentary vote

The National Council of the Slovak Republic amended the constitution after the government formed a majority with the support of some opposition members. Ninety of the 99 present members voted in favor, with one government member abstaining. The total number of Parliament members is 150.

The text recognizes only two sexes — male and female. Surrogacy is forbidden. Only married couples can adopt children, and Slovakia does not recognize civil unions between people of the same sex. Equal pay for the same work is guaranteed for both sexes.

Moreover, “strengthening the protection of traditional values is key to preserving the cultural heritage of the Slovak Republic and ensuring legal stability,” the draft of the amendment reads.

The amendment “responds to the need to protect cultural heritage,” which is “specifically linked to the recognition of marriage between a man and a woman as a unique union,” according to Parliament’s press release.

The government is composed of two social democratic parties, which, unlike their counterparts in Western Europe, are not progressive, along with a nationalist party.

Christian Democrats in the opposition voted in favor, except for two members, who said it would raise “the standard of fundamental human rights” by “supporting families, raising children, and strengthening cohesion in our common European home.”

The changes take effect on Nov. 1.

National sovereignty questions

The amendment will “emphasize the sovereignty of Slovakia in fundamental cultural and ethical issues regarding the protection of life and human dignity, private and family life, marriage, parenthood and family, culture, and language.”

This includes the upbringing and education of children.

Previously, several Slovak Catholic politicians, including former prime minister Ján Čarnogurský, called for sovereignty in cultural and ethical issues. They may have wanted to protect Slovakia from allegedly progressive or top-down influence from supranational organizations such as the European Union. Slovakia has been part of the EU since 2004.

However, some observers suggest that this concept may be controversial, as national sovereignty in these issues may conflict with EU law.

“Even among experts today, there are fundamental disagreements about what it will actually mean, how it will be applied, and what effects the courts will recognize in their decision-making,” warned constitutional lawyer Radoslav Procházka. The amendment is vaguely formulated and goes against the principle of legal stability, he added.

The principle of the primacy of EU law “is based on the idea that where a conflict arises between an aspect of EU law and an aspect of law” in a member state, “EU law will prevail.” This ensures the pursuit of EU policies that would otherwise be unworkable.

Criticism and support

Opponents of the amendment criticize it as controversial and based on political calculation, arguing it will complicate the lives of transgender people.

On the other hand, some commentators applauded that a strong conservative majority passed the amended constitution on such essential themes. For too long, conservatives — especially in the West and partly in Slovakia — have not been able to go against the mainstream on similar topics. 

Some conservative commentators argued that, after what Antonio Gramsci once called a “long march through the institutions” by the left, the time has come to reclaim these cultural spheres.