| Abstract |
Three decades ago the Dutch state terminated its last direct financial ties with the churches. “The silver cords,” as one MP called the payments to the churches in 1983, “have been ended with a golden handshake, and I hope the state will never again establish any galling bonds with the church.” 1 Article 185 of the constitution, which since 1815 had guaranteed a state contribution to salaries, tuition, and pensions of clergymen and a postage exemption for the churches, was deleted after a compensation deal was struck with the participating churches.
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