Religious law expert Sophie van Bijsterveld does not expect the European Court of Justice to oblige churches to delete entries from baptismal registers on request. In an interview with the Dutch Katholiek Nieuwsblad (Wednesday) the Professor of Religion, Law and Society at the University of Nijmegen referred to decisions by supervisory authorities and courts in other EU member states, which, unlike the Belgian data protection authority, have always allowed churches to keep baptismal register entries permanently, even against the will of the baptised.
“Taking into account religious freedom and a reasonable interpretation of EU law, I think the Court should conclude that there is no right to be removed from the baptismal register upon request,” the legal scholar stated.
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