Religions and Churches in the European Union

The law of the European Union does not influence on the internal regulations concerning the relationships among member countries and religions. All relationships between each country and Churches are everywhere a little bit different. It is usually a result of the long historical processes. However, we are able to present three main models defining relationships: country - Churches.

The first model - the official defined relationships: country - Church exists mostly in countries identifying with Protestant religion: the Great Britain, Denmark (in the past also Sweden). To this group we can also add Greece - the Greko-catholic country. Another model takes place in the catholic countries: Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In those countries all relationships can be defined as a "friendly separation". In those countries the "friendly separation" is based (the same as in Poland) on the official documents signed by both sides - a concordat. The country usually supports or together with the Church conducts some initiatives such as charities. Despite all those common actions, the country does not prefer any religions, respects their independence, does not interfere in religious practices. The last model that underlines the separation the country from religion exists in France. This statement has its origins in achievements of French Revolution.

The European Union respects traditions of its members and does not interfere in regulations defining the relationships among countries and religions. It is defined in "Amsterdam Treaty":

"The European Union respects and does not interfere in regulations defining relationships with Churches, societies, religious unions. The European Union also respects the statue of philosophical and non-confession societies"

Religious freedom and equality

All European countries guarantee their citizens full religious freedom. It is based on human dignity that such as other basic rights is inviolable. The religious freedom contains: a free choice to confess a religion, to choose a religion and to do religious practices. The religious freedom contains both individuals and groups - Churches, confession groups. The country is not allowed to interfere in religious freedom until it does not interfere in dignity and freedom of other people that are not involved with any religions. The religious freedom must also respect the public order.

The country is not allowed to discriminate its citizens or religious organizations because of their confession. The law must respects all confessions, is not allowed to prefer the defined confession, and also is not allowed to persuade people to one, chosen confession. There could be no discrimination for citizens who confess no religion and on the other hand there could be no discrimination for people who confess a religion.

The danger of possible abuse of law for religious freedom has been noticed by the European Union. Soon after a dramatic accident when 16 members of a sect committed a suicide, the European Union released a statement concerning a problem of religious sects. The European authorities underlines that religious sects very often break the human rights, deceives, blackmail and make their members addict to various drugs. The European Parliament ordered their members to start an effective defense from the religious sects but without encroaching the religious freedom.

The teaching religion

The European countries guarantee their citizens the religious freedom that means also the right for religious knowledge. The defined system of teaching religion is similar to the model regulating the relationships country-Church. Some differences mostly concern following elements:

• the attending the classes - according to parents opinion or order children attend the classes or ethics, but for example in Austria it is possibly to resign attending religious classes
• the organisation of a system teaching religion and its extend - only in primary schools or also in kindergartens and high schools
• the way of financing
• the marks on the school certificate
• the amount of classes
• the statue of religion teachers

In the most European countries the religion is taught in primary schools in the school buildings. In France there is another possibility: one free from the school day the children learn religion in Church buildings. Outside of schools the students from French high schools are taught religion on condition the parents agree. In the most European countries the religion teachers receive their salaries from the government - the same as other teachers. In France the parents cover the cost of teaching religion. The content of religion classes is prepared by Church authorities, they also nominate teachers that might become real teachers when the school authorities examine their pedagogical authorities.

Financing the Churches

The way of financing Churches depends on the model defining relationships country-Church. In some countries such as the Great Britain, Denmark, Greece Churches are financed by Governments. In the other countries the way of financing depends usually on history and tradition - there is no formal ban for financing Churches in the European law. In some countries that have deep historical roots with the Church, the government pay salaries for the priests, spends some finances on building and maintaining Church buildings, supports Church organisations, seminaries. This model exist in Belgium. Germany is another example of financing Churches. In this model the government is an intermediary among Church and citizens who pay a special tax for a chosen confession organisation. In other countries that are officially separated from Churches, the Churches regard as private enterprises, and the Government does not interfere in ways Churches collect money. For Churches in those countries, the only sources of money are their members. Even in this model some Church services are sometimes subsidised by the country budget: some services in schools, hospitals, prisons. The way of financing Churches or their institutions are not allowed to break the religious freedom.

Work of charity

The European countries support Churches work of charity. The governments do not interfere in internal organisation of the Church institutions, they only subsidised and co-ordinate own charity programs with activities of Church organisations. In some countries Church charity activities are sometimes financed by financial help from social security system - the government subsidised schools, hospitals, creches.

Church marriages

The accepting of marriages taken in the Church is defined by individual law of each country. For example in France only the laic form is valid, and on the other hand both Spain and Italy accept religious marriages. In those countries (similar as in Poland) those marriages are to be registered in civil department.

JU/PO