Psax's Skeptiffic Globuli

Author: Psax

  • Czechs and the Persistent Allure of the Death Penalty

    Czechs and the Persistent Allure of the Death Penalty

    In the landscape of modern European democracies, capital punishment is largely a relic of a bygone era. The Czech Republic abolished the death penalty in 1990, a landmark decision symbolizing a definitive break from its totalitarian past. And yet, more than three decades later, a stubborn paradox remains: a majority of Czech citizens would welcome its return. A recent survey reveals a society deeply divided on this ultimate question of justice, providing a fascinating glimpse into the tensions between emotion, reason, and public policy.

    The Numbers and the History

    This July, the Public Opinion Research Centre (CVVM) of the Czech Academy of Sciences released its latest findings on public attitudes towards the death penalty. The results are sobering: 52% of Czechs believe capital punishment should exist, while 45% disagree. The remaining 3% are undecided.

    This isn’t just a fleeting sentiment. While support has fluctuated over the years, it has consistently remained high. The context is vital: the death penalty was abolished by the new democratic government shortly after the 1989 Velvet Revolution, under the strong moral leadership of dissident-turned-president Václav Havel. It was seen as a definitive break from a totalitarian past where the state held the power of life and death, often for political ends. The fact that half the nation still yearns for this power to be restored is a phenomenon that demands a skeptical look.

    A Generational and Educational Divide

    Digging into the demographics reveals not one, but two distinct Czechias. The most dramatic divides are found not between men and women, but across generations and educational backgrounds.

    • Age: Three-quarters (75%) of Czechs aged 51-70 support the death penalty. In stark contrast, support among the young (15-30) plummets to just 25%.
    • Education: 61% of those with a basic education are in favour. This number drops to 50% for those with a secondary education, and to a minority of 38% among university graduates.

    This data paints a clear picture. Support for capital punishment is strongest among those who came of age when it was still law, and weakest among those who have only known a system without it. Furthermore, higher education strongly correlates with opposition to the death penalty. This suggests that greater exposure to fields like law, ethics, and social sciences—disciplines that encourage nuanced critical thinking—may lead individuals to question the simple finality that capital punishment promises.

    The Arguments for ‘Final Justice’

    What fuels this majority support? The survey asked respondents to rate various arguments. For proponents, the primary driver is not pragmatic but emotional.

    The most popular reason, with 66% agreement, is that the death penalty “provides just retribution for victims and their families.” This is a powerful appeal to our intuitive sense of fairness, a gut feeling that a terrible wrong must be balanced by an equally final punishment. It’s an argument rooted in emotion, not evidence—a textbook example of the logical fallacy argumentum ad passiones (appeal to emotion).

    Following closely are arguments that frame criminals as a burden: that they “unnecessarily occupy space in prisons” and that “the state must feed them from our taxes” (65% agreement). This taps into economic anxieties and populist rhetoric, portraying justice as a matter of resource management rather than principle.

    The idea that capital punishment is an effective deterrent is, tellingly, a less compelling reason for its supporters. This is where skeptical analysis is crucial. Global data, including reports from organisations like Amnesty International, consistently shows no conclusive evidence that the death penalty deters violent crime more effectively than life imprisonment.

    The Rational Counterarguments

    Opponents, on the other hand, base their position on more rational and cautious grounds. Their number one concern, supported by a massive 81% of the public (including many who otherwise favour the death penalty), is the “risk of a miscarriage of justice and the conviction of an innocent person.”

    This is the ultimate skeptical veto. It acknowledges a fundamental truth: human systems are fallible. Police investigations can be flawed, witnesses can be mistaken, and evidence can be misinterpreted. While a prison sentence can be overturned and an exonerated person released, an execution is irreversible.

    The second-strongest argument against is the “risk of abuse” (72% agreement), a fear that resonates deeply in a country with a living memory of political show trials.

    The Head vs. the Heart

    The enduring Czech support for the death penalty is a clear case of the heart clashing with the head. It is not driven by evidence of its utility as a deterrent, but by a powerful, intuitive, and deeply human desire for retribution—a feeling that for some crimes, no other punishment feels “just enough.”

    However, a modern, liberal, and evidence-based justice system cannot be built on gut feelings alone. It must be built on principles that acknowledge human fallibility and prioritise the prevention of irreversible error above the satisfaction of our emotional desire for vengeance. The survey shows that while the allure of an “eye for an eye” remains strong, the rational fear of executing an innocent person is nearly universal. It is in that gap—between the emotional appeal of final justice and the rational understanding of its terrible risks—that the argument for a humane and cautious legal system must be made. The question for the Czech Republic is whether the lessons of its own history are strong enough to keep the head in charge of the heart.

    Sources:

  • A body that would not disappear: Czech Sect Murder Case

    A body that would not disappear: Czech Sect Murder Case

    “I believed him. I loved him. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

    These are not the words of a hardened criminal, but of a Czech dentist and former teacher — two ordinary women who, under the influence of a charismatic self-proclaimed healer, killed him with their own hands. And then, perhaps even more shockingly, called the police.

    The murder of Richard Šiffer, the central figure of what the media now calls the “Kutná Hora sect,” is a case that shocks by its simplicity — and disturbs by what it reveals about the human mind’s vulnerability to manipulation, belief, and perceived righteousness.

    In June 2025, the Regional Court in Pardubice sentenced the two women — one to 12 years and the other to 13 — for murdering Šiffer in a remote village near Kutná Hora. The verdict: homicide. But the story is far from straightforward.

    The despotic “healer”

    Richard Šiffer was not a licensed medical practitioner. He called himself a spiritual healer, practiced “energy manipulation”, and claimed divine insight. Over time, he built a small, devoted community of followers — mostly educated women — whom he gradually isolated from their families, professions, and critical reality.

    Behind the mask of care, Šiffer acted with calculated dominance. He frequently diagnosed his followers with fabricated or exaggerated health conditions and prescribed costly “treatments,” all paid directly to him. Despite portraying himself as a benevolent guide, his behavior was marked by psychological control and financial exploitation. According to police, after his death, investigators found 134 million Czech crowns — nearly 5.3 million euros — among his belongings.

    His communication was laced with esoteric mysticism and authoritarian commands. He demanded strict obedience, imposed diets and celibacy, and dictated followers’ personal and spiritual routines. When he eventually announced he could no longer endure the “burden” of his physical body, he instructed his most loyal followers to help him “leave this world.”

    A body that would not disappear

    In December 2023, the women carried out what they believed was a sacred act: they strangled Šiffer to death by their own hands, following his explicit instruction. They believed — or had been made to believe — that his body would vanish, disappear, transcending the material world as proof of spiritual fulfillment. But to their surprise… the body did not disappear.

    Shaken by the stark reality, women tried to cover their murder, but later, it was the women themselves who contacted the police, in a state of spiritual disillusionment. Their belief system had broken. Reality asserted itself in the most irreversible way.

    One of the most striking aspects of the court proceedings was the conclusion drawn by expert psychiatrists and the court itself: none of the involved individuals suffered from mental illness or delusions. Not even Šiffer. His manipulation was intentional, calculated — and disturbingly effective.

    The women, too, were judged to be mentally competent. They were not psychotic. They were not hallucinating. They acted under powerful emotional and psychological influence, but with intact reasoning. This, paradoxically, makes the case even more chilling.

    Critical thinking, or the absence thereof

    This tragedy is not simply about a charismatic fraud and his victims. It is about the slow erosion of judgment through trust, reverence, and fear. It is about how educated, intelligent individuals (in one of the most atheistic country) can surrender their autonomy when they come to believe they are following a higher truth.

    The “Kutná Hora sect” was not a large organization. It wasn’t well-known. But it ended with one dead, two imprisoned, and many more psychologically wounded. The real danger lay not in supernatural powers — but in ordinary mechanisms of psychological manipulation, emotional dependence, and the abdication of skepticism.

    This is why critical thinking is not just academic. It is a tool of survival. A bulwark against the seductive pull of certainty offered by those who claim to know what lies beyond life — and demand your life in return.

    Sources:

    Featured image: Sora.com, AI generated picture.

    This post was originally written for the Atropos Blog.

  • 1 June 2025 – Acacias and Rain

    A walk today, with my son and the dog. The air, at around 17°C, was mild despite a light, persistent rain. Or perhaps because of it – a beautiful fragrance filled the air, a complex perfume of early summer. The Broom (Cytisus scoparius) still offers some flowers, though small green seed pods now hang from its branches, a quiet signal of the advancing season. More prominent now is the Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), in full, glorious bloom, its sweet scent drifting on the damp air. Adding to this chorus were flowering Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and Black Elder (Sambucus nigra), various grasses, Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria), the distinct aroma of wet earth, and a multitude of meadow flowers.

    Insect activity remains surprisingly low. A brief spell of heat last Saturday, reaching 27°C, was evidently not enough to stir them fully. A few moths visited the light last night, but today’s most notable sighting was a Pine-tree Lappet (Dendrolimus pini) resting quietly on our entrance door. A striking find. Otherwise, the air was largely empty of buzzing wings.

    The birds, however, have returned with early morning hunger. After a stormy night, both feeders and feeding boards were emptied by familiar visitors—sparrows, tits, greenfinches, great spotted woodpeckers, and haw finches.

    It seems the truly cold days are behind us, though cooler temperatures and more rain are forecast. I had thought to reduce the bird feeding, but given the weather, I think I will wait a little longer.

    Pine-tree Lappet (Dendrolimus pini)

  • 27. May 2025 – Rain, hungry birds

    The days remain cool and unsettled. Temperatures hover between 12 and 15 °C, and light rain comes and goes. We walk during the lulls—sometimes under a sky that lifts just enough to let the sun reach through. When it does, its warmth feels sudden and generous.Yesterday, under such fleeting sun, we visited the small old rubble site behind the village. We were looking for Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare)—a hardy beauty I’d like to establish by our fence. From the sandy soil, small, unfamiliar plants emerged, uncovered by my son’s curious little hands. I believe they are Small Cudweed (Filago minima), a delicate annual. Though not legally protected, it is listed as a threatened species (C3) in the Czech Republic. Since their roots were already exposed, we took them home too.

    Insects have all but vanished from the air. At the feeders and feeding trays in the yard, birds arrive, rain or not. I wedge fat balls into the hollow of the willow trunk; woodpeckers make short work of them—one ball gone in a day. We’ve also started mixing dried mealworms into the seed mix.

    No sign of the Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) or Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) for a week now. But others visit daily, persistent even beyond sunset in the deepening dusk:

    • Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
    • House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
    • Great Tit (Parus major)
    • Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
    • Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
    • Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
    • European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
    • Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

    Occasionally, the air stirs with movement from a Common Swallow (Hirundo rustica) or a Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus). A Magpie (Pica pica) flashes past the garden.

    Though spring tries to settle, the weather remains restless. A sudden warmth is forecast for the weekend—nearly 30 °C, a sharp turn from today’s drizzle. But by Sunday, the temperatures will tumble low again, as rain and storms are coming, and beyond it, perhaps even frost.

    The land seems to hold its breath.

  • 14. and 21. May 2025 – Spring’s Struggle

    14. May 2025

    The meadow beyond the garden has been cut. In the centre of the bare field sat a Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)—silent, still. After a while, it rose with slow, steady effort, lifting itself into the wind, and drifted beyond sight. Overhead, the breeze carried hundreds of dandelion seeds, white and weightless, crossing the blue in lazy flight.

    Morning chill still lingers, but by midday, warmth returns. After days of stagnation, life seems to move forward again. Yet the ground is dry. The water barrel by the house is nearly empty.

    At the feeder, a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) visits daily—most often the female. She pecks with purpose at the sunflower seeds, oats, and a slick mixture of fat and oil. A Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) joins her, less shy now. Greenfinches (Chloris chloris) and Hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) arrive in quiet pairs. Not every day, but often enough to feel familiar.

    A Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) entered my house through the back door today. She flew a gentle loop through the bathroom, examining vents and high corners, then vanished again into the yard. She returned twice more, each time bolder—once even exploring through the house, and then finally left. I hope she does not try to nest here. She is welcome, but this place holds too many dangers—dogs, cats, and now and then a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) that cuts low across the yard.

    The birdbath and the smaller drinking dish are busy now. Sparrows and tits come to sip, even the starling takes her turn. With so little moisture in the soil, I will place a wider basin farther out in the garden. Quiet water. It may help more than I know.

    21. May 2025

    The dandelions have vanished. In their place is now blooming clover, buttercup, silver cinquefoil, bellflower, and vetch. Rain has returned, and the air is cool again. Temperatures dropped from twenty degrees to fifteen. Nights are hushed. Few insects stir beneath the porch light. Only two moths came: the Sand Bordered Bloom (Isturgia arenacearia) and the Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata).

    The scarcity is plain. House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) now bring their young directly to the feeder. So do the starlings. Today, a Hawfinch pair appeared with two fledglings—whole family gathered on the edge of the tray.

    This season is difficult. Cold and rain during nesting strain even the hardier birds. Food is short. Adults must choose between warmth and nourishment. Insectivores suffer the most—swifts, swallows, tits. Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) sometimes raise only four fledglings from nine eggs. For the swallows still on eggs, there may be luck in delay. Their chicks, at least, are not yet exposed to the cold.

    Others manage better. Starlings, blackbirds, thrushes—ground feeders—have earthworms to draw from the damp soil. Their broods are thriving. For the rest, only warmth and sun can reopen the narrow window for a second brood. 

    This should be the last day of the rain, let’s see, what’s next. 

    Some Genista, germanica probably, blooming in wet forest.
    Some Coenonympha sp. waiting in the rain.
    Solo night visitor, the Sand bordered bloom (Isturgia arenacearia).
  • “March for Life” and the Struggle for Czech Secularism

    “March for Life” and the Struggle for Czech Secularism

    In April 2025, Prague once again witnessed the “March for Lie”… sorry “March for Life” – an annual public demonstration against abortion organised by the ultra-conservative Christian association Hnutí pro život (“Movement for Life”). The march was blocked by pro-choice counter-protesters and eventually dispersed by police. The march didn’t reach its final destination.

    While it may seem like a marginal clash between worldviews, the broader implications are not to be underestimated, especially in a country where church-state separation is both constitutionally enshrined and constantly tested.

    The Event Itself

    The procession, with its symbolic white crosses and slogans such as “Let us protect life from conception”, was endorsed by several church authorities and attended by thousands. Blocking actions by feminist and pro-choice activists disrupted the route and caused media attention. Police intervened and partially cleared the way, though the march didn’t make it to its planned endpoint.

    This isn’t the first time the march faced public resistance. But each time, the political reach of its organisers seems to grow.

    Hnutí pro život, the main organiser, is more than a moralist protest group. It is an activist lobbying force with clear political ambitions. Their efforts aim not just at public persuasion, but at changing laws in a country that has allowed safe, legal abortion for decades.

    They are proposing changes to Czech reproductive laws, while promoting abstinence-only education and challenging comprehensive sex education, and spreading emotionally manipulative and medically questionable narratives about abortion. 

    In a secular, evidence-oriented society, such actions should raise concern.

    The recent reaffirmation by Czech President Petr Pavel that “the Catholic Church should not have privileged status” reflects a wider unease. He referred to the long-disputed Concordat – a bilateral treaty with the Vatican signed in 2002 but still unsigned by the president. If passed, it would grant the Church a special influence – a move seen by many as incompatible with democratic secularism. We wrote about it here.

    This concern is not abstract. In 2023, the Church lobbied against anti-discrimination amendments in family law. Religious groups attempted to halt IVF treatments for single women. And of course, the March for Life continues as a flagship spectacle for those pushing for a theologically inspired redefinition of civil rights.

    The Czech Republic – historically one of the most secular countries in Europe – must remain vigilant. The presence of religious lobbyists in public policy spaces, particularly those seeking to limit reproductive freedom, should be scrutinised, not normalised.

    The “March for Life” may appear like a fringe event. But its symbolism and strategic backing point to a larger cultural campaign. As secular citizens, skeptics, and critical thinkers, we must ask: Whose values are shaping our laws? Whose voice is heard when morality is legislated? And is the Czech Republic truly secular, or just passively so?

    Let’s make sure that freedom of religion doesn’t silently become freedom of religious rule.

    Sources:

https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/domaci/pochod-pro-zivot-zablokovali-odpurci-akce-360430

https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/domaci-zivot-v-cesku-pochod-pro-zivot-v-praze-zablokovali-odpurci-do-cile-nedorazil-275141

https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/2665851

https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/privilegovane-postaveni-katolicke-cirkve-smlouva-s-vatikanem-podle-pavla-neni-v_2505071734_kce

  • 4. May 2025 – Few kilometres into the wild

    Yesterday:
    Temperature: 25.5 °C | Relative humidity: 38% | Weather: sunny, mild breeze | Locations: mosaic of field, meadow, riparian woodland, and village garden

    A free day. We set out — son, dog, and I — past the edge of the village. The track winds across open fields and early-summer meadows, toward the stream-boundary woods and further, in a slow arc toward the muddy pondlet. The path is strewn with fallen petals from Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in fragrant bloom.

    Small butterflies flit past in quiet abundance — tortoiseshells, brimstones, whites — each moving too quickly and freely to name precisely. The air shimmers with tiny insects. Everything that can bloom, really does.

    The meadows are in radiant form. Among the flowering plants visible from a single spot: Field Pansy (Viola arvensis), Speedwell (Veronica sp.), Spurge (Euphorbia sp.), Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), Broom (Cytisus scoparius), a pink Vetch (Vicia sp.), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Violets (Viola sp.), Forget-me-not (Myosotis sp.), Red and White Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum, Lamium album), Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum), Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense), and young Walnut (Juglans regia). Bumblebees drift from flower to flower. The air carries scent, and the fluff of fading Dandelions (Taraxacum sp.) rises on the breeze.

    To reach the pondlet, we passed through a dense patch of tall Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica). The water’s edge is overgrown with Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Birch (Betula pendula), and Aspen (Populus tremula). It’s a sheltered, pleasant place. A light wind ripples the surface — enough to cool the sun’s intensity, enough to bring tiny waves across still water. From somewhere near, frogs call intermittently.

    The trail climbs next into a stony Pine grove, eventually shifting into Oak woodland — a habitat of entomological interest. We continue through mixed forest, and finally return along a sunken path flanked by now-fading Blackthorns. A murmuration of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) moves with us, accompanying us to the main road near the village.

    Today:
    Temperature: ~15 °C | Weather: cool, post-storm, slight rain | Conditions: rapid seasonal shift

    Yesterday reached a high of 29 °C. Today is nearly fifteen degrees cooler. Rain and thunder came through, though only lightly here. The apple tree, in full pink bloom just yesterday, has dropped most of its crown. Plants have seized the sun while they could. The next days will be cooler, with ground frost possible at dawn.

    At the feeders, I continue to offer a mix of sunflower seeds, peanuts, oats, and oil. A new shallow dish for drinking and a larger one for bathing have been added. Both are now in regular use. Two separate flocks of sparrows — two species — now treat this yard as their own. Great Tits (Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) also visit daily. Among the more notable regulars are the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) — most often a female, occasionally relieved by the male — and Greenfinches (Chloris chloris), usually one pair, sometimes in two pairs. A beautiful Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) starts to appear as well, once with a mate. A small mouse emerges at dusk among the feeding stones, quietly taking its supper.

    At night, several moths have come to rest near the outside light:

    • Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata)
    • Scalloped Hook-tip (Falcaria lacertinaria)
    • Small Yellow Underwing (Panemeria tenebrata) — the Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) is now flowering profusely
    • Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis)
    • Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)
    • Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

    All remain to be processed and logged.
    The garden, the yard, quietly, is alive.

    Entering the nature
    Relief
    Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata)
    Small Yellow Underwing (Panemeria tenebrata) feeding on the Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense)

  • 5. April 2025 – Wetlands

    Finally a day off. Saturday morning – I’m heading out into nature with my little son and our dog. We’re going to check out the wetland. On the way, we pass a badger’s den (Meles meles) gaping from the stream bank. A bit further on, there are more and more entrances to the badger labyrinth. We don’t go closer and continue along the stream.

    We pass a small game enclosure, from which an European fallow deer (Dama dama) watches us with a calm but cautious gaze.

    And now we’re at the wetland. The sun is starting to warm a bit, and the air smells like spring. Floating on the water are clusters of slime with tiny black dots – the next generation of pond frogs (Rana). Right beneath my feet, a partridge (Perdix perdix) bursts out of the tall dry grass and vanishes with a cry into the nearby forest. I look back and see she has been sitting on a fresh clutch of eggs. We quickly move on so the partridge can return and warm her future offspring as soon as possible.

    Tomorrow, we’ll go to see the other wetland – the one further by the forest, where the meadow saffron grows.

    Rana eggs
    Perdix perdix eggs

  • 3. April 2025 – No time

    I’ve been kind of caught up in life lately. Or rather, I don’t have time to go out into the countryside. Well, I do, but I go with my son and my dog, so we do other activities than collecting plants for the herbarium or bird watching and so on. You just can’t do that with a dog. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my son!

    So I just watch everything turn green and start to bloom. It’s a beauty that frustrates me, as I feel the need to take phenological notes and expand my herbarium.
    So, for now, my amateur activity remains nightly butterfly mapping.

    Last year was the hottest year in Clementinum in 250 years. The average temperature reached 10.3 °C (50.54F), two degrees above the so-called normal from 1991 to 2020. It was particularly warm in February and March.

    Biston strataria (European Oak Beauty)
    Earophila badiata (Shoulder-Stripe)
    Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
    Agriopis marginaria (Dotted Border Moth)

  • Tensions Within Czech Catholicism: The Impact of Vácha’s Removal

    Tensions Within Czech Catholicism: The Impact of Vácha’s Removal

    The Czech Republic, often touted as one of the most atheistic nations in Europe, has recently witnessed a contentious episode within its Catholic Church, highlighting the deep-seated tensions between traditionalist and progressive factions, as well as broader issues of conservatism, transparency, and the handling of sexual abuse allegations. The controversy surrounding the dismissal of Marek Orko Vácha, a popular and unconventional priest, by Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner, has ignited public debate and exposed the fault lines within the Czech Catholic community.

    God in the Pub

    Vácha, known for his engaging sermons and ability to connect with both believers and non-believers, was removed from his position as a vicar in the academic parish of the Most Holy Saviour Church. The official reason given for his dismissal by Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner was his alleged violation of Catholic Church regulations during a service broadcast on TV Noe as part of a program called “Hospodin v hospodě” (“God in the Pub”). These alleged violations included conducting the mass in an unsuitable location and deviations from established liturgical rules. However, these reasons appear to be merely a pretext for removing a priest whose open-minded approach clashes with the more conservative elements within the Church. Vácha himself has stated that he believes he did not violate any rules.

    Critics argue that the accusations against Vácha are nonsensical for several reasons. First, masses outside of traditional church settings are not uncommon, with popes and bishops often celebrating mass in stadiums and other improvised locations. Vácha also had support from people such as the director of TV Noe (who broadcasted the mass) who stated that Vácha had everything prepared appropriately. Second, the claim that the mass was not conducted with sufficient dignity seems dubious, given that the broadcast of the mass is available and one can easily assess the atmosphere of the event.

    The Archdiocese claimed that the service sparked outrage among believers and clergy, prompting Graubner to take action. But it has been revealed that Archbishop Graubner allegedly encouraged parishioners to complain about Vácha’s mass before his dismissal, suggesting a coordinated effort to oust Vácha. Critics of his dismission argue that Vácha’s removal was motivated by his progressive views and his attempt to modernize the Church. Vácha himself has stated that the service was carefully prepared. Supporters of Vácha view his dismissal as a blow to the Church’s efforts to remain relevant in a secular society. Some observers pointed out that the church’s approach to Vácha contrasts starkly with its slow response to allegations of sexual abuse by priests.

    The situation has sparked protests and demonstrations. Demonstrators in Prague demanded the resignation of Graubner and other Church officials and also criticized the lack of transparency in the Church’s decision-making processes and its perceived unwillingness to address past cases of abuse.

    Critics also point to the Church’s attempts to influence legislation regarding the reporting of sexual assault, raising concerns about its commitment to protecting victims.

    Moreover, the controversy has intensified the debate surrounding the ratification of the Vatican treaty (we wrote about it here), with opponents arguing that it unduly favours the Church and could hinder the prosecution of abuse cases due to the protection of confessional secrecy. The situation is made more complicated by the Czech Republic’s history and relationship to religion – the country has a history of skepticism and even hostility towards religious institutions, stemming from the era of enforced Catholicism under the Habsburg monarchy, the secularising influence of the First Republic, and the massive anti-religious propaganda of the tens of years lasting communist regime.

    While traditional religious affiliation is low, many Czechs express a belief in some form of higher power or spirituality. However, they often prefer to practice their faith outside the confines of established churches. This reflects a broader trend of distrust toward institutions. Many Czechs are also quite superstitious.

    The Czech Catholic Church, like many religious organisations, faces the challenge of adapting to a rapidly changing world. The Graubner-Vácha affair underscores the need for greater transparency, open dialogue, and a willingness to address past failings. Without these steps, the Church risks further alienating itself from a society that values secularism, individual freedom, and accountability.

    Edit:

    Joint Statement by Archbishop Jan Graubner and Fr. Marek Vácha
    February 21, 2025

    In response to recent events, we wish to jointly acknowledge our shortcomings and offer each other an apology on the eve of the approaching Lenten season: for the ways in which we have hurt one another in the celebration of the Holy Mass; for the insensitivity in the manner chosen to end the cooperation with a priest who had been assisting in the Archdiocese of Prague; and for the lack of sensitivity in our communication. We regret any scandal this may have caused.

    We both wish to enter the Lenten season in mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.

    We hope that this small gesture of mutual reconciliation will contribute to healing the wounds we inflict upon one another in today’s divided and contentious society.

    We desire not to cause further wounds to the body of the Church.

    In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.

    May God help us all in this endeavor.

    Mons. Jan Graubner, Archbishop of Prague
    Fr. Marek Vácha, Priest, Educator, and Writer