- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Slovenia · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
A parish of the Roman Catholic Church – Court Ruling (Slovenia, 2021)
Privacy enforcement record
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A Slovenian parish was told it could not erase a person's data from the Baptismal Register, as it is considered important archival material. This matters because it clarifies that some records must be kept for historical reasons. The decision reinforces the balance between individual rights and the need for public records.
What happened
The parish was ruled against in its attempt to erase data from the Baptismal Register.
Who was affected
An individual who requested their data to be erased from the Baptismal Register was affected by this ruling.
What the authority found
The authority decided that the Baptismal Register is archival material and cannot be erased under GDPR rules.
Why this matters
This case highlights the importance of preserving certain records for historical and archival purposes, even when individuals wish to have their data erased.
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Automated check recorded — 18 March 2026.
Processing notes: articles corrected, national law identified, authority corrected.
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A parish of the Roman Catholic Church was processing the application of an individual on the right of erasure. The individual requested their personal data to be erased from the Baptismal Register, because they were no longer a member of the church. In their opinion, the collected data were no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected. They did not give consent for their baptism or processing of his personal data. The individual also claimed that personal data entered in the register revealed religious beliefs and interfered with their religious freedom. The data collected in the register were: first and last name of individual, date of birth, date of baptism, names of parents and godparents and place of residence. The parish claimed that the legal basis for the processing of data in the register is mainly the Protection of Documents and Archives and Archival Institutions Act, which classifies the registry as archival material of outstanding national importance, therefore it is not allowed to delete any of the data contained. The parish has also made an additional entry in the register stating that the person is no longer a member of the church. The Slovenian DPA assessed if the processing is necessary for archiving purposes in the public interest in accordance with Article 89(1) GDPR and if the erasure is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of that processing (Article 17(3)(d) GDPR). The SA emphasised, that the aforementioned act itself stipulates that church documentary material has the characteristics of archival material. It is also subject to the principles of permanence and integrity and it provides measures which can be considered as appropriate safeguards according to 89(1) GDPR. The DPA decided that the Baptismal Register is an archive document according to the national act and that the individual cannot claim the right of erasure when the processing is needed for archiving
Outcome
Court Ruling
A ruling by a national court on a data-protection matter.
Related Cases (0)
No other cases found for A parish of the Roman Catholic Church in SI
This is the only recorded case for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Ruling Date
2 June 2021
Authority
Informacijski pooblaščenec
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. A parish of the Roman Catholic Church - Slovenia (2021). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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