Due to ISKCON`s strong protest, however, the new law allows those churches that have to transform into civil associations to keep their land as long as their main activity is religious. (According to the previous draft, ISKCON`s losing its church status would have resulted in losing their 270 hectars of land, the world-recognized Krishna-valley organic farm as well, that would have left 300 monks and families, as well as 52 sacred cows homeless.)An important note is that, due to modifications of the draft law, now those churches that have already requested to be acknowledged as such (that includes ISKCON) will keep their church status until the 29th of February 2012. During this period the Parliament will deal with the applications in a speedier manner. So the next two months will still remain crucial in defining ISKCON Hungary`s future for decades. Read more…