Cap. 445 Art. 69Provisions regarding religious cultural heritage.

(1) Without prejudice to any other law that may be in force, and until such time when there may be reached an agreement between the competent civil and ecclesiastical authorities, cultural property belonging to the Catholic Church, including to Catholic

Religious Orders, and destined or used for religious purposes shall fall under the exclusive regulation and superintendence of the Catholic Cultural Heritage Commission to be appointed every two years by the President of the Malta Episcopal Conference, and to consist of not less than five experts one of whom shall be so appointed after consultation with the Minister.

(2) Cultural property belonging to, and destined or used for religious purposes by any denomination other than that mentioned in sub-article (1) may be placed by the relevant and competent religious authority under the exclusive regulation and superintendence of a religious cultural heritage commission. Each such religious cultural heritage commission shall be appointed for a period of two years by the relevant and competent religious authority, and shall consist of three experts one of whom shall be so appointed after consultation with the Minister.

(3) The commissions referred to in sub-articles (1) and (2) shall have the same powers and duties with regard to the cultural property under their superintendence as the Superintendent, and shall give a report about their work to the Forum:

Provided that where such commissions are not so appointed the regulation and superintendence of the property falling under their competence will vest in the Superintendent.

(4) The Minister, after full consultation with the President of the Malta Episcopal Conference mentioned in sub-article (1) or with the relevant and competent religious authorities mentioned in sub-article (2), may prescribe rules regulating the powers and duties of, and the procedures and practices which should be followed by the commissions mentioned in sub-articles (1) and (2):

Provided that religious authorities and, or their respective superintendencies may delegate any function to the Superintendence established under article 7.