law

he course of ecclesiastical law aims to introduce students to the knowledge of the essential elements of the discipline of the religious factor in Italy. Main topics of the course are: 1) Religion and the organization of the civil power, 1st part of the course, about 6 hours. 2) The ordering of the State and the religious factor. The religious subjects and the public authorities, 1st part of the course, about 7 hours. 3) The Italian Constitution and the religious factor; 2nd part of the course, about 7 hours. 4) The State and minority religions; 2nd part of the course, about 7 hours. 5) The individual and collective religious freedom; 2nd part of the course, about 17 hours. 6) The Holy See and the Vatican State; 2nd part of the course, about 7 hours. 7) Religious organizations; 3rd part of the course, about 7 hours. 8) The means for religious activities or worship; 3rd part of the course, about 7 hours. 9) Legal effects of religious marriage. 3rd part of the course, about 7 hours.

In order to be able to take the examination of Ecclesiastical Law it is necessary to have passed the examination of Institutions of Private Law and the examination of Institutions of Public Law. It is essential to know the concepts of law, legal system, constitution and sources of law.

General part : F. FINOCCHIARO, Diritto ecclesiastico edizione compatta, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2017, con esclusione della Sez. III del capitolo IX e degli interi capitoli X, XI. In addition to the manual indicated above, for the study of the general part, for a summary view you can consult : B. Serra, Compendio di diritto ecclesiastico, DIKE giuridica editrice, Roma, ultima edizione Special part : B. SERRA, Valetudo et religio. Radici e declinazioni di un rapporto indissolubile (coordinate preliminari), in Valetudo et religio: intersezioni fra diritto alla salute e fenomeno religioso, a cura di B. Serra, Giappichelli, Torino, 2020, pp. 4-56.

in person

Oral examination at the end of the course, aimed at verifying the critical knowledge of the main lines of the subject and the ability to understand the main problems of the discipline of the religious phenomenon. The evaluation is expressed in /30. The exam consists of a single test and is held orally. To achieve the sufficiency (18/30) the student must demonstrate knowledge of the legal discipline of the religious phenomenon. In order to achieve a higher evaluation, the student must also demonstrate that he has acquired the method of legal argumentation, expressing himself with an adequate and correct property of language and knowing how to identify and interpret the legal sources The test is considered passed with full marks (30/30 cum laude) if the candidate demonstrates particular ability to deepen, independent judgment and the ability to critically grasp and evaluate the multiple and current social and juridical declinations of the religious dimension.

Lectures, seminars, exercises and case analysis aimed at allowing students a critical understanding of the fundamental lines of the subject and the main problems of the discipline of the religious phenomenon.

The Ecclesiastical Law Course aims to initiate students in the knowledge and in-depth study of the essential elements of the legal regulation of the religious phenomenon in Italy. The main topics covered in the general part of the course are: 1. “Ecclesiastical law": introductory notions. From “ecclesiastical law” to “law and religion.” - 2. Religion and the organization of civil power over the centuries. - State order and the religious phenomenon: 3. Religious subjects and public powers. - 4. The Republican Constitution and the religious phenomenon. - 5. Individual and collective religious freedom. Freedom of conscience and the right to conscientious objection - 6. The principle of secularism of the state. - 7. Vertical ecclesiastical law: the distinction of orders and the principle of bilaterality. The state and minority religious denominations. - 8. Horizontal ecclesiastical law. The protection and promotion of religious freedom. - Religious symbols and observances - 10. Law, religion, economics. - 11. Religious marriage and its civil efficacy: concordat marriage and marriage before ministers of religious denominations other than Catholic. The new family models. - 12. Criminal law and the religious factor. - 13. Law and religion among globalization, multiculturalism and inter-culture. The special part of the course is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of religious bodies, with special regard to the ways and mechanisms of finding economic resources of civilly recognized ecclesiastical bodies in the modern economic system.

No prerequisites are foreseen. However, prior knowledge of Institutions of Public Law is strongly recommended.

Recommended texts for exam preparation  General part (student's choice): P. CONSORTI, Diritto e religione. Basi e prospettive, Laterza, Bari, 2023, oppure A. FUCCILLO, Diritto, religioni, culture. Il fattore religioso nell’esperienza giuridica, V ed., Giappichelli, Torino, 2025 (ad eccezione dei capitoli 3, 4, 6 e 12).  Special part: F. FRANCESCHI, Il finanziamento degli enti confessionali fra tradizione e innovazione, I: Gli enti cattolici, Giappichelli, Torino, 2024, limitatamente alle Pt. 1 (Gli enti ecclesiastici cattolici), 3 (Le nuove frontiere dell’operatività finanziaria degli enti ecclesiastici) e 4 (Il finanziamento degli enti ecclesiastici fra tradizione e innovazione, ad esclusione del cap. 1). A partially different program is planned for attending students, which will be communicated by the Professor at the beginning of class.

The course is scheduled in the second semester. Attendance is free. For attending students there is a partially different program, which will be communicated by the teacher at the beginning of the lessons. Participation of 75% (at least) of the total lessons is required to be considered attending students

Oral Examination. For attending students, mid-term tests are scheduled, with arrangements to be made with the professor.

A. Bettetini, Ente ecclesiastico, beni religiosi e attività di culto: profili giuridici, Milano: Giuffrè, 2019 G. Casuscelli, Nozioni di diritto ecclesiastico, Torino: Giappichelli, 2015 C. Cardia, Principi di diritto ecclesiastico: tradizione europea legislazione italiana, Torino: Giappichelli, 2015 F. Franceschi, Manuale di diritto ecclesiastico, Molfetta: Nel Diritto editore, 2022 M. Ricca, Pantheon. Agenda della laicità interculturale, Palermo: Torri del Vento, 2013 E. Vitali, A.G. Chizzoniti, Diritto ecclesiastico, Milano: Giuffre, 2019 P. Consorti (ed.), Costituzione, religione e cambiamenti nel diritto e nelle società, Pisa: Pisa University Press, 2019 S. Berlingò, G. Casuscelli, Diritto ecclesiastico italiano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2020

Lectures with slides. In-depth seminars on specific topics.