Currently, retired clergymen of traditional religious denominations recognized by the state receive a state pension of 360 litas (over EUR 100) a month. Following the adoption of the proposed amendments, the sum would rise to 1,800 litas.
The amendments were initiated after it emerged last spring that retired well-known Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis would receive a pension of only around 200 litas per month.
Figures from the secretariat of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference show that there are around 840 Catholic priests in Lithuania. A priest retires at the age of 75.
