Maigesetze

Maigesetze. The term refers to 3 acts adopted to regulate legal controversies between the Holy See and the Austrian state (Catholic Church); in spite of strong protest from church dignitaries and conservatives these acts were passed by the liberal members of the Reichsrat^* and entered into force on May 25, 1868. They restored civil marriage, established compulsory secular education and regulated denominational relations. Supplementary legislation comprised the Reichsvolksschulgesetz passed on May 14, 1869, as well as an act dealing with legal controversies between the church and the state and the contribution of prebends to a religious fund, as well as the official recognition of the Religious Act of May 1874. All these acts provoked a serious conflict between Church and State and in 1874 led to the total abrogation of the Concordat of 1855.