Law and Religion 2200-1PS042
Indicative course outline:
— Constitutional principles governing the relationship between the state and religious communities.
— International legal standards for the protection of freedom of religion or belief.
— State administration responsible for religious affairs, including the registration of religious communities.
— Legal status of religious legal entities under civil law.
— Religious associations and church foundations.
— Legal basis for the public financing of religious communities.
— Civil law protection of freedom of religion or belief.
— Criminal law protection of freedom of religion or belief.
— Religious education in public schools.
— Religious marriages recognised in civil law.
— Prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.
— Legal aspects of public worship.
— Pastoral care provided within state institutions.
— Taxation of income received by clergy and religious legal entities.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, the student:
— identifies the constitutional principles governing the relationship between the state and religious communities, and explains their normative implications for ordinary legislation,
— identifies Council of Europe standards in the area of freedom of religion or belief and assesses the compatibility of Polish legal arrangements with those standards,
— describes the specific features of the participation of religious legal persons in civil law relations, particularly the limitations on their legal representation,
— accurately outlines the current model of financing religious communities, organises arguments for its reform, and articulates their own position on the issue,
— reconstructs the applicable legal framework in relation to other topics covered in the course,
— comments on the development of legislation and case law concerning religion, using terminology acquired during the course.
Assessment criteria
Assessment is based on attendance and a multiple-choice written test. Active participation may exempt students from the test.
Practical placement
N/A
Bibliography
Core textbook: A. Mezglewski, H. Misztal, P. Stanisz, Prawo wyznaniowe [Law and Religion], Warsaw 2011 (to be read with reference to subsequent legal and case-law developments). Supplementary reading may be indicated by the course instructor.
Students are also expected to be familiar with legal instruments referred to during the course, in particular the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, the 1993 Concordat, and the Act on the Guarantees of Freedom of Conscience and Religion.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: