State and Religion: Agreements, Conventions and Statutes

This book addresses the regulation of the relationship between States and religious groups, investigating agreements, conventions, and statutes. It focuses on the legal consequences of belonging to a religious group, in terms of rights and explores the possible instruments for introducing some forms of “consensual legal pluralism”. The special norms provided by denominational agreements are considered: “special rights” or “exemption” provided by the State, which fall under the protection of religious liberty and, in some cases, require special instruments to be ensured. Agreements, conventions, and statutes are seen in light of the constitutional protection of fundamental rights, especially the constitutional principle of religious freedom, which is guaranteed to everyone, regardless of the creed professed majority, minority or ultra-minoritarian.