SEPARATION of CHURCH and STATE in EUROPE Ethnical, Religious and Cultural Backgrounds
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During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the separation of state and church was an issue of great importance for liberal politicians and SEPARATION OF CHURCH parties in European politics. Liberals all over Europe tried to encourage the separation of religious institutions and the state. After the Second World War AND STATE IN EUROPE this issue seemed to become more and more irrelevant, as the separation was more or less achieved in some countries, or the existing ties did not lead WITH VIEWS ON SWEDEN, NORWAY, THE NETHERLANDS, to major troubles or inequalities. Recently the matter has become relevant BELGIUM, FRANCE, SPAIN, ITALY, SLOVENIA AND GREECE again, because of questions raised by integration of immigrants with different IN EUROPE AND STATE OF CHURCH SEPARATION ethnical, religious and cultural backgrounds. The separation of church and state developed, due to historical, cultural, social and political reasons, in very different ways in each of the Fleur de Beaufort - Ingemund Hägg - Patrick van Schie (eds.) member states of the European Union. The European Liberal Forum – a network of European liberal think tanks in connection with the European Liberal Party (ELDR) – organised several seminars on the topic of secularism. During these discussions the variety of developments in the relation between state and church showed, and so came the idea to publish a book on this matter. The purpose of the book is to provide evidence and ideas that could be used in the different countries in Europe for reforms clarifying the roles of religious organisations in relation to the state. This is of the utmost importance now that Europe is becoming more multireligious, multi-ethnic and multicultural. In this volume on the Separation of Church and State in Europe several ELF member organisations wrote an article on the situation in their country. The result is a book with views on the separation of church and state in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Greece. The contributions are preceded by an introductory chapter which deals with the liberal principles of the separation, followed by a short bibliography for further reading. A second introductory chapter focuses on secularism debates within the European Union institutions and clashes between European and national policies. ISBN 978-90-73896-40-6 European Liberal Forum Separation of Church and State in Europe with views on Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Greece Fleur de Beaufort Ingemund Hägg Patrick van Schie (editors) European Liberal Forum 2008 Published by European Liberal Forum (asbl.) and Berthil Ohlin Institute, independent liberal think tank, Sweden Venstre, the Liberal Party of Norway Prof.mr. B.M. Teldersstichting, Dutch Liberal think tank, affiliated to the Dutch Liberal party VVD Kenniscentrum D66, the Netherlands Centre Jean Gol, Belgium Fundació Catalanista i Demòcrata Trias Fargas, Spain Fondazione Critica liberale, an independent foundation and think tank in Italy Fundacija Libertas, foundation for political culture affiliated to LDS, Liberal Democracy of Slovenia Liberty Forum, Greece This publication was funded by the European Parliament. Copyright © 2008 European Liberal Forum – Brussels This publication may only be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publisher. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the European Liberal Forum. For further information and distribution: Prof.mr. B.M. Teldersstichting Koninginnegracht 55a 2514 AE Den Haag The Netherlands 0031 (0)703631948 www.teldersstichting.nl [email protected] Printed in the Netherlands by Oranje/Van Loon B.V. Den Haag ISBN: 978-90-73896-40-6 Keywords: separation of church and state, secularism, liberalism, religious freedom Preface During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, a battle ground for liberal politicians and parties in European politics has been for the separation of church(es) and the state. Although in some countries more than in others, a secularising stance has been a defining position for liberals in most of Europe. After the Second World War this issue seemed to become increasingly irrelevant but issues of integration of immigrants with different ethnical, religious and cultural backgrounds have reversed this development. A series of seminars were organised by the European Liberal Forum (ELF) – an umbrella European liberal think tank in connection with the European Liberal Democratic and Reform Party (ELDR): in Bucharest in 2006, in Berlin in 2007 and in Barcelona in 2008. Several liberal think tanks cooperate in the ELF-network. These seminars were part of the programme ‘A liberal contribution to a European civic identity’, on which a final report can be found at the ELF website. The idea to make a book on secularism in Europe was launched by the Prof. mr. B.M. Teldersstichting – the Dutch liberal think tank affiliated to the Dutch liberal party VVD – and got positive reactions from other liberal think tanks, being members of the European Liberal Forum. The purpose is to present the situation of relations between religious organisations and the state (political institutions) in different countries in Europe. The assumption is that these relations are quite different, due to historical, cultural, social and political reasons. The policy relevant purpose of the book is to provide evidence and ideas that could be used in the different countries in Europe for reforms clarifying the roles of religious organisations in relation to the state. This is of the utmost importance now that Europe is becoming more multireligious, multi-ethnic and multicultural. The first chapter of this book deals with the liberal principles of the separation, followed by a short bibliography for further reading. The second introductory chapter focuses on secularism debates within the European Union institutions and clashes between European and national policies. These chapters are followed by presentations of the situations in Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Greece (roughly following a route from northern to southern Europe). The choice of countries is partly the result of self-selection. We have invited on a larger scale, and those who have volunteered to participate within a tied time-line have been welcomed. I The editors want to express their thanks to the participating think tanks and authors who have contributed to the writing of this book. Financial support from the European Liberal Forum and from participating think tanks is gratefully acknowledged. Den Haag/Stockholm, September 2008 Fleur de Beaufort Ingemund Hägg Patrick van Schie II Contents Preface I Towards Religious Neutrality of Public Institutions in Europe. Introduction 1 Giulio Ercolessi and Ingemund Hägg E Pluribus Unum? A European Community of Values Must Remain Secular 17 Sophie in ‘t Veld Sweden – Secular Population and Non-secular State 31 Ingemund Hägg The State and Church Moving Toward Dissolution in Norway 45 Odd Einar Dørum The Separation of Church and State in the Netherlands 61 Fleur de Beaufort and Patrick van Schie The Separation between State and Church. Beware of the Legislator? 81 Remco Nehmelman Is Belgium a Laïque State? 91 Hervé Hasquin A Note on Recent Developments in France 113 Giulio Ercolessi and Ingemund Hägg Between Religion and Politics: Laicism in Spain 123 Àlex Seglers Gómez-Quintero Italy: Born as a Secular State in the XIX Century, Back to a 139 Clerical Future in the XXI Century? Giulio Ercolessi The Slovenes and the Catholic Church. The Reflections of a Historian 157 Jože Pirjevec The Slovenes and the Catholic Church. The Reflections of a Sociologist 163 Marjan Smrke III CONTENTS State and Church in Greece. A Greek Paradox 177 Stratis Katakos List of Contributors 187 IV Towards Religious Neutrality of Public Institutions in Europe Introduction Giulio Ercolessi and Ingemund Hägg Introduction The history of European liberalism has to a large extent coincided with the history of freedom of conscience and religious freedom. Freedom of conscience in the field of religious beliefs has actually been the model for the extension of individual freedom also in other domains of public life in open societies. In spite of differences in legal frameworks and different political vocabularies, a common liberal position in this field is recognizable throughout European democracies. This is due both to the development of a common set of principles and values that are largely owed to the liberal heritage, and to the success achieved by the liberal tradition of religious neutrality and separation – as large as practically feasible – between religion and political power as a necessary way to attain individual freedom, at the same time achieving social cohesion. Increased diversity is a consequence of life in free and open societies. This also applies to individual beliefs. We no longer live in religiously homogeneous societies. Secularisation has made religious belief a personal choice, not an ascribed identity given by birth once and for ever. And immigration from countries with different religious traditions has enhanced religious pluralism. Different faiths and non-religious beliefs must be regarded as equally respectable options also by public institutions. The increased and increasing cultural, philosophical and religious diversity of European societies, far from making separation obsolete,