The ministry drafted the amendments after the Constitutional Court ruled last July that the provision of the current Law on National Conscription that exempts clergymen of traditional and state-recognized religious communities and associations from military service ran counter to the Constitution.
“Persons exempted from military service are not called up either for mandatory military service or for service in the event of mobilization. The draft (amendments) provide for deferment of mandatory military service for clergymen, i. e., they may be conscripted to do their military service in the event of mobilization. In that case, they would serve as military chaplains,” the ministry said.
In the event of mobilization, drafted clergymen, just like other draftees, would have to undergo the required basic military training, it told BNS.
The Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference says in a letter to the Defence Ministry that they approve of the proposed amendments, which are to be discussed by the government on Wednesday.
In the wake of the Constitutional Court’s ruling, the ministry said that Roman Catholic priests could do an alternative service, but the Bishops’ Conference rejected the proposal.
Around 3,000 people are called up for a nine-month mandatory military service annually after Lithuania reintroduced partial military conscription in 2015.