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Partnership Relations

The status of religions in Germany is governed by a set of complex legal standards, including constitutional principles, legislative provisions, treaties and agreements between the State and the Churches. In comparison to other types of State-Church relationships, Germany’s situation is distinguished by a partnership between the State and religious communities. The State cooperates with the religious communities in the areas of education, social action and chaplaincies in the army and in prisons. It also maintains formal relations with the representative bodies of the Churches. The following information on Religious rights (Staatskirchenrecht or Religionsrecht) refers to the legal foundations of this partnership.

In Germany, religious rights are characterised by the principles of liberty, equality and the public nature of religions as well as by the separation of the State and Religious Communities. These principles are rooted in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG) and in the Weimar Constitution (Weimarer Reichsverfassung, WRV), of which the provisions regarding religious communities are conserved in the Basic Law.

Voir ROBBERS Gerhard, "State and Church in Germany", in ROBBERS Gerhard (ed.), État et Églises dans l’Union européenne, 3e éd., Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019, p. 109-124.

D 19 July 2012    AMichael Heinig

CNRS Unistra Dres Gsrl

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