September 19, 2012
Italy’s government has conferred official recognition for the first time upon Orthodox, Pentecostal, and Mormon churches, responding to a lobbying effort than began in the 1990s.
There are an estimated 1.4 million Orthodox in Italy, and that number is rapidly growing with the influx of migrants from eastern Europe. There are about 500,000 Pentecostals and 25,000 Mormons.
The Orthodox Church is now considered an official religion that is in accord with Italian law. They can also can now receive income tax revenue. Up until recently, only the Catholic Church, Judaism and other established churches including Lutherans, Evangelists, Waldensians and 7th-day Adventists were recognized and able to receive tax revenue.
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