This collection brings together legal scholars, canonists and political scientists to focus on the issue of public funding in support of religious activities and institutions in Europe. The study begins by revolving around the various mechanisms put in place by the domestic legal systems, as well as those resulting from the European law of human rights and the law of the European Union. It then goes on to look at state support and particular religious groups. The presentation of European and national law is supplemented by theoretical and interdisciplinary contributions, with the main focus being to bring into discussion and map the relationship between the funding of religions and the economy and to infer from it an attempt at a systematic examination or theorization of such funding. This collection is essential reading for those studying Law and Religion, with particular focus on the countries of the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and Turkey. The views expressed during the execution of the RELIGARE project, in whatever form and or by whatever medium, are the sole responsibility of the authors. The European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Public Funding of Religions in Europe
Biography
Francis Messner is Director of Research at CNRS (University of Strasbourg/CNRS) and Professor at the University of Strasbourg. He manages the MA in Islamology. He is involved in the Editorial Board of several reviews of law and sociology of religion. He was a member of the Commission for legal consideration of the relations between religions and public authorities, appointed by the Minister of Interior in 2005 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Consortium for State-Church Research. He co-edited the Traité de droit français des religions (2003 and 2013). He is a member of the RELIGARE-project and as such manages the research group working on State support to religions. Currently, he is ’chargé de mission’ for the Minister of Interior and the Minister for Higher Education.
’Public funding of religions is an important subject of debate today in Europe. Within eighteen well-documented chapters, gathering different national points of view with timely historical insights, this book represents a major contribution to this key question, so complex to solve. It is a high-level reflection led by the best specialists.’ Vincente Fortier, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Strasbourg University, France ’In contemporary Europe, direct and indirect financial aid to religious organizations represents a key testing ground for relations between religion and the State. This scholarly volume is ample testimony not only to the importance of the topic in our critical understanding of these relations but also of the value which the State places on religious activities as they contribute to social vitality. This impressive collection of studies offers profound insights on the issues, principles and challenges faced in this field of law and religion.’ Norman Doe, Cardiff University, UK ’From historical compensations and privileges to the status of not for profit organizations, this essential publication shows that public funding of religions in European legal systems is a clear expression of the evolution from institutionalized systems of church-state relationships to systems based on the fundamental rights of individuals.’ Miguel RodrÃguez Blanco, University of Alcalá, Spain
