Evangelical church in Rome takes case of unrecognised worship place to European Court of Human Rights

An evangelical church in central Rome (Italy) has decided to take its fight for religious liberty to the European Court of Human Rights.

Breccia di Roma, a Protestant community that bought the premises of a former shop seven years ago, has fought for five years to have its space recognised as a place of worship.

The Italian Tax Agency required the church to pay taxes like any other business that generates profits, even though the premises are only used for Sunday services and other activities of a religious nature, such as prayer meetings, Bible study, or events related to the gospel and culture.

Over the years, Leonardo de Chirico and Clay Kannard, pastors of the church, have explained their story in various contexts, also in this extensive report published by Evangelical Focus, emphasising that two courts in 206 and 2023 have ruled in their favour and against the authorities, based on the principle that a faith community has the right to organise its worship palceaccording to its own principles and needs.

However, following an appeal by the tax agency to Italy’s Supreme Court (the Corte Suprema Di Cassazione), the judges ruled on 12 June that the fact that the evangelical community has not subjected its premises to “structural changes” that would identify it more visibly as a Christian temple is sufficient reason to continue to consider the place subject to taxes applicable to for-profit entities.

The pastors of Breccia di Roma described the ruling “clearly unfair and discriminatory” as well as “ideological and prejudicial”.

“According to our convictions, based on Scripture, this place is fitting for a church to come together”, said De Chirico in a video message that has seen by hundreds in the first hours. “There is no need for altars, pictures, statues, or other items that characterise Catholic buildings. (...) This is a place where gospel work takes place”.

The premises of this Breccia di Roma are also used regularly by a Spanish-speaking evangelical community.

The final decision of Italy’s highest court, which overturns the two previous legal victories of the evangelical church, means that Breccia di Roma will have to pay about 6,000 euros a year in taxes, in addition to paying all outstanding taxes for the last few years.

After some days of reflection, the evangelical church has now announced that it will take its case to the European Court of Human Rights, convinced that they have suffered discrimination.

On its website, Breccia di Roma explains the details of their case, shares specific prayer requests, and encourages people who identify with its fight for religious liberty to donate to its goal of raising 75,000 euros to pay the future and past tax costs, and its legal defence at an European level.

“We know that in God’s hands and under his providence, justice will prevail”, De Chirico said.