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This paper analyzes the issue of the representation of religious diversity in Lithuanian online media. The first part of the article represents the media's influence on the formation of public opinion. Also, it describes the most important issues of religious diversity representation in the media. The second part reveals the aspects of media representations of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, other traditional and non-traditional religious communities, and new religious movements. According to the empirical data, it can be stated that very popular online media in Lithuania frequently presents information that is negative, stereotypical and lacks objectivity about various issues related to religious diversity. The empirical data also showed that the analyzed online news portals are in favor of mainstream religious community representational politics that spread dominant religious values, attitudes and contribute to the existence of religious hegemony. However, representations of various new religious movements and other non-traditional religious communities are mostly negative, stereotypical and full of subjective judgments and argumentation.

This paper analyzes the issue of the representation of religious diversity in Lithuanian online media. The first part of the article represents the media's influence on the formation of public opinion. Also, it describes the most important issues of religious diversity representation in the media. The second part reveals the aspects of media representations of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, other traditional and non-traditional religious communities, and new religious movements. According to the empirical data, it can be stated that very popular online media in Lithuania frequently presents information that is negative, stereotypical and lacks objectivity about various issues related to religious diversity. The empirical data also showed that the analyzed online news portals are in favor of mainstream religious community representational politics that spread dominant religious values, attitudes and contribute to the existence of religious hegemony. However, representations of various new religious movements and other non-traditional religious communities are mostly negative, stereotypical and full of subjective judgments and argumentation.

This paper analyzes the issue of the representation of religious diversity in Lithuanian online media. The first part of the article represents the media's influence on the formation of public opinion. Also, it describes the most important issues of religious diversity representation in the media. The second part reveals the aspects of media representations of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, other traditional and non-traditional religious communities, and new religious movements. According to the empirical data, it can be stated that very popular online media in Lithuania frequently presents information that is negative, stereotypical and lacks objectivity about various issues related to religious diversity. The empirical data also showed that the analyzed online news portals are in favor of mainstream religious community representational politics that spread dominant religious values, attitudes and contribute to the existence of religious hegemony. However, representations of various new religious movements and other non-traditional religious communities are mostly negative, stereotypical and full of subjective judgments and argumentation.

The role of religious symbols, including wearing religious garments in school and displaying religious symbols in public, has been, and continues to be, a matter of controversy in a number of countries. Students or teachers observing religious dress codes, including Islamic headscarves and Sikh turbans, employees wearing cross and chain around the neck have in some countries been expelled from schools, denied access to higher education, suspended from their jobs or their other rights were restricted. Summarising the above analysed case-law, it could be concluded that European Court of Human Rights (Commission as well) dealt with the diverse forms of religious symbols. The relevance of the issue could be proved by the new applications, which raise new aspects of the display/wearing of religious symbols. ECtHR in its rulings highlighted the State's margin of appreciation and emphasized the importance of the principles of secularisms and equality. Thus, the Court acknowledged the interference with the freedom of religion, it was justified on the grounds laid down in the limitation clause (Article 9(2) of the Convention). In most of the cases the European Court of Human Rights having regard to the Contracting States' margin of appreciation justified the interference as "necessary in democratic society" in pursuance to the legitimate aim of protecting the rights and freedoms of others and of public order. However, the judgment in "Crucifix" case, where the Court did not find that in classrooms hanging crucifix violates freedom of religion, raised the discussion about "double standards" applicable to the different religions. Consequently, the pending cases regarding the ban on the full-face veil in France and the prohibition to wear a cross and chain around the neck at work, could draw a new line in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.

The role of religious symbols, including wearing religious garments in school and displaying religious symbols in public, has been, and continues to be, a matter of controversy in a number of countries. Students or teachers observing religious dress codes, including Islamic headscarves and Sikh turbans, employees wearing cross and chain around the neck have in some countries been expelled from schools, denied access to higher education, suspended from their jobs or their other rights were restricted. Summarising the above analysed case-law, it could be concluded that European Court of Human Rights (Commission as well) dealt with the diverse forms of religious symbols. The relevance of the issue could be proved by the new applications, which raise new aspects of the display/wearing of religious symbols. ECtHR in its rulings highlighted the State's margin of appreciation and emphasized the importance of the principles of secularisms and equality. Thus, the Court acknowledged the interference with the freedom of religion, it was justified on the grounds laid down in the limitation clause (Article 9(2) of the Convention). In most of the cases the European Court of Human Rights having regard to the Contracting States' margin of appreciation justified the interference as "necessary in democratic society" in pursuance to the legitimate aim of protecting the rights and freedoms of others and of public order. However, the judgment in "Crucifix" case, where the Court did not find that in classrooms hanging crucifix violates freedom of religion, raised the discussion about "double standards" applicable to the different religions. Consequently, the pending cases regarding the ban on the full-face veil in France and the prohibition to wear a cross and chain around the neck at work, could draw a new line in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.

Political freedom cannot be separated from the freedom of conscience, reason and thought. Christian vocation to evangelize concerns the teachers of theology who following theological methods are responsible for seeking suitable ways to preach Christian teaching to the people of their time. The journal SOTER opens this possibility in Lithuania. The aim of the article – to reveal quantitative and qualitative aspects of the scientific topics of the journal. The tasks of the article: 1) to show the importance of theology science in spreading Christian culture; 2) to identify the seeking of wisdom and truth in philosophical tradition; 3) to show the priority of Catholic educa tion; 4) to do research on folk devotions, ethnoculture, Christian art and culture; 5) to give the structural analysis and methodology of the SOTER scientific publications. The Methods: Quantitative, qualitative and statistical methods are used in order to research the topics of the publications and interdisciplinary aspects of them: a detailed analysis of the contents, the programme of mathematical statistics (Microsoft Excel). The freedom of religion is a cultural value. Through culture the Church becomes closer to the nations but as a sign of transcendence, in different cultures it has to preserve the identity of the faith. The care about the objectives of the faith enables the Church to educate clerics and lay people on a high level of theology. The journal SOTER published a lot of articles by the scientists of theology during the ten years. These are the publi-cations on Church history, dogmatic, moral, pastoral, fundamental, ecumenical, spiritual theology, vocations, liturgy, Canon Law, Catholic social teaching. Different theological topics are rather proportional in the journal. [.]

Political freedom cannot be separated from the freedom of conscience, reason and thought. Christian vocation to evangelize concerns the teachers of theology who following theological methods are responsible for seeking suitable ways to preach Christian teaching to the people of their time. The journal SOTER opens this possibility in Lithuania. The aim of the article – to reveal quantitative and qualitative aspects of the scientific topics of the journal. The tasks of the article: 1) to show the importance of theology science in spreading Christian culture; 2) to identify the seeking of wisdom and truth in philosophical tradition; 3) to show the priority of Catholic educa tion; 4) to do research on folk devotions, ethnoculture, Christian art and culture; 5) to give the structural analysis and methodology of the SOTER scientific publications. The Methods: Quantitative, qualitative and statistical methods are used in order to research the topics of the publications and interdisciplinary aspects of them: a detailed analysis of the contents, the programme of mathematical statistics (Microsoft Excel). The freedom of religion is a cultural value. Through culture the Church becomes closer to the nations but as a sign of transcendence, in different cultures it has to preserve the identity of the faith. The care about the objectives of the faith enables the Church to educate clerics and lay people on a high level of theology. The journal SOTER published a lot of articles by the scientists of theology during the ten years. These are the publi-cations on Church history, dogmatic, moral, pastoral, fundamental, ecumenical, spiritual theology, vocations, liturgy, Canon Law, Catholic social teaching. Different theological topics are rather proportional in the journal. [.]

Political freedom cannot be separated from the freedom of conscience, reason and thought. Christian vocation to evangelize concerns the teachers of theology who following theological methods are responsible for seeking suitable ways to preach Christian teaching to the people of their time. The journal SOTER opens this possibility in Lithuania. The aim of the article – to reveal quantitative and qualitative aspects of the scientific topics of the journal. The tasks of the article: 1) to show the importance of theology science in spreading Christian culture; 2) to identify the seeking of wisdom and truth in philosophical tradition; 3) to show the priority of Catholic educa tion; 4) to do research on folk devotions, ethnoculture, Christian art and culture; 5) to give the structural analysis and methodology of the SOTER scientific publications. The Methods: Quantitative, qualitative and statistical methods are used in order to research the topics of the publications and interdisciplinary aspects of them: a detailed analysis of the contents, the programme of mathematical statistics (Microsoft Excel). The freedom of religion is a cultural value. Through culture the Church becomes closer to the nations but as a sign of transcendence, in different cultures it has to preserve the identity of the faith. The care about the objectives of the faith enables the Church to educate clerics and lay people on a high level of theology. The journal SOTER published a lot of articles by the scientists of theology during the ten years. These are the publi-cations on Church history, dogmatic, moral, pastoral, fundamental, ecumenical, spiritual theology, vocations, liturgy, Canon Law, Catholic social teaching. Different theological topics are rather proportional in the journal. [.]

This Master's thesis deals with some essential provisions of the concordat (1927) and the agreements (2000) concluded between the Holy See and Lithuania, and implementation of them. Generally speaking, these specific international agreements establish the legal status of the Catholic Church as institution, its clergymen in the State, and determine limitations of activity of them. At the beginning of the thesis author pays attention to the legal nature of the concordat as international agreement, i. e. definition, object, subjects, validity and other elements of it are discussed. Then historical background of origin of the concordat and the agreements is presented and the parties of these international legal acts – the State and the Church – are briefly discussed. The legal status of religious organizations in Lithuania and foreign states, position of the Catholic Church in the context of legal status of other denominations are also analyzed (the main source – jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania). The principal part of the thesis is intended for analysis and comparison of particular provisions of the concordat and the agreements. In consideration of the fact that the status of legal person is recognised for the Catholic Church, among other things, the procedure for imposing corporate income tax, immovable property tax, land tax on it, is analyzed in the thesis. The practice of other foreign states is also discussed. Author also gives one's attention to the order of formation and divorce of church marriage that causes a lot of debates among lawyers. As the tradicion of dual registration of marriage is still dominating in Lithuania, problems of jurisdiction of divorce of marriage are analyzed. Legislation, jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court is disputed on these questions, experience of foreign states is also cited. Other important point – religious education in public schools. As many debates have arised in respect of conformity with the Constitution of certain provisions of the agreement regulating these matters, author of the thesis analyses reasons of that, describes practice of legislation in Lithuanian and other foreign states, judicial jurisprudence and presents one's estimations on the said question. Thus analyzing the main problems discussed in this article author comes to certain conclusions and introduces suggestions that may help to solve and eliminate gaps in the law system as they impede the effective realization of legal norms.

This Master's thesis deals with some essential provisions of the concordat (1927) and the agreements (2000) concluded between the Holy See and Lithuania, and implementation of them. Generally speaking, these specific international agreements establish the legal status of the Catholic Church as institution, its clergymen in the State, and determine limitations of activity of them. At the beginning of the thesis author pays attention to the legal nature of the concordat as international agreement, i. e. definition, object, subjects, validity and other elements of it are discussed. Then historical background of origin of the concordat and the agreements is presented and the parties of these international legal acts – the State and the Church – are briefly discussed. The legal status of religious organizations in Lithuania and foreign states, position of the Catholic Church in the context of legal status of other denominations are also analyzed (the main source – jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania). The principal part of the thesis is intended for analysis and comparison of particular provisions of the concordat and the agreements. In consideration of the fact that the status of legal person is recognised for the Catholic Church, among other things, the procedure for imposing corporate income tax, immovable property tax, land tax on it, is analyzed in the thesis. The practice of other foreign states is also discussed. Author also gives one's attention to the order of formation and divorce of church marriage that causes a lot of debates among lawyers. As the tradicion of dual registration of marriage is still dominating in Lithuania, problems of jurisdiction of divorce of marriage are analyzed. Legislation, jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court is disputed on these questions, experience of foreign states is also cited. Other important point – religious education in public schools. As many debates have arised in respect of conformity with the Constitution of certain provisions of the agreement regulating these matters, author of the thesis analyses reasons of that, describes practice of legislation in Lithuanian and other foreign states, judicial jurisprudence and presents one's estimations on the said question. Thus analyzing the main problems discussed in this article author comes to certain conclusions and introduces suggestions that may help to solve and eliminate gaps in the law system as they impede the effective realization of legal norms.

This Master's thesis deals with some essential provisions of the concordat (1927) and the agreements (2000) concluded between the Holy See and Lithuania, and implementation of them. Generally speaking, these specific international agreements establish the legal status of the Catholic Church as institution, its clergymen in the State, and determine limitations of activity of them. At the beginning of the thesis author pays attention to the legal nature of the concordat as international agreement, i. e. definition, object, subjects, validity and other elements of it are discussed. Then historical background of origin of the concordat and the agreements is presented and the parties of these international legal acts – the State and the Church – are briefly discussed. The legal status of religious organizations in Lithuania and foreign states, position of the Catholic Church in the context of legal status of other denominations are also analyzed (the main source – jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania). The principal part of the thesis is intended for analysis and comparison of particular provisions of the concordat and the agreements. In consideration of the fact that the status of legal person is recognised for the Catholic Church, among other things, the procedure for imposing corporate income tax, immovable property tax, land tax on it, is analyzed in the thesis. The practice of other foreign states is also discussed. Author also gives one's attention to the order of formation and divorce of church marriage that causes a lot of debates among lawyers. As the tradicion of dual registration of marriage is still dominating in Lithuania, problems of jurisdiction of divorce of marriage are analyzed. Legislation, jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court is disputed on these questions, experience of foreign states is also cited. Other important point – religious education in public schools. As many debates have arised in respect of conformity with the Constitution of certain provisions of the agreement regulating these matters, author of the thesis analyses reasons of that, describes practice of legislation in Lithuanian and other foreign states, judicial jurisprudence and presents one's estimations on the said question. Thus analyzing the main problems discussed in this article author comes to certain conclusions and introduces suggestions that may help to solve and eliminate gaps in the law system as they impede the effective realization of legal norms.

This Master's thesis deals with some essential provisions of the concordat (1927) and the agreements (2000) concluded between the Holy See and Lithuania, and implementation of them. Generally speaking, these specific international agreements establish the legal status of the Catholic Church as institution, its clergymen in the State, and determine limitations of activity of them. At the beginning of the thesis author pays attention to the legal nature of the concordat as international agreement, i. e. definition, object, subjects, validity and other elements of it are discussed. Then historical background of origin of the concordat and the agreements is presented and the parties of these international legal acts – the State and the Church – are briefly discussed. The legal status of religious organizations in Lithuania and foreign states, position of the Catholic Church in the context of legal status of other denominations are also analyzed (the main source – jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania). The principal part of the thesis is intended for analysis and comparison of particular provisions of the concordat and the agreements. In consideration of the fact that the status of legal person is recognised for the Catholic Church, among other things, the procedure for imposing corporate income tax, immovable property tax, land tax on it, is analyzed in the thesis. The practice of other foreign states is also discussed. Author also gives one's attention to the order of formation and divorce of church marriage that causes a lot of debates among lawyers. As the tradicion of dual registration of marriage is still dominating in Lithuania, problems of jurisdiction of divorce of marriage are analyzed. Legislation, jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court is disputed on these questions, experience of foreign states is also cited. Other important point – religious education in public schools. As many debates have arised in respect of conformity with the Constitution of certain provisions of the agreement regulating these matters, author of the thesis analyses reasons of that, describes practice of legislation in Lithuanian and other foreign states, judicial jurisprudence and presents one's estimations on the said question. Thus analyzing the main problems discussed in this article author comes to certain conclusions and introduces suggestions that may help to solve and eliminate gaps in the law system as they impede the effective realization of legal norms.