Ryszard Bobrowicz, Giuseppina Scala (eds), Legalising Religious Communities. On the Implications of State Funding for Religion, Religious Communities and Faith-Based Organisations in Europe, with the preface of Pierluigi Consorti, Turin, Giappichelli, 2025.
This volume offers a timely exploration into how states should define religion in justifying public funding for religions, religious communities, and faith-based organisations in Europe. Scholars from Italy, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Poland, and beyond inquire into legal implications that ripple across Europe, considering diverse perspectives at the intersection of law and religion.
The book begins with a deep dive into the Italian context, highlighting the privileges of the Catholic Church, the challenges faced by Islamic communities, and the development of new tools such as institutional dialogues with religious associations. The second section expands to European perspectives, comparing national systems and exploring the legal frameworks that shape state-religion interactions. The final part offers international reflections, including the role of human rights law and the potential of religious communities as partners in building sustainable societies.