Ritual slaughter as the right of national minorities in Poland

The article in question comprises an analysis of legal regulations which are in effect in Poland and that refer to a possibility of using the practice of ritual slaughter. The considerations start with comparative and historical comments. Subsequently, it is presented how the Constitution interprets freedom of conscience and religion on grounds of constitutional laws that are guaranteed to national minorities paying attention to the fact that freedom of religion may be subject to restrictions when one takes the principle of proportionality into account. What is finally submitted is the reasoning of the Constitutional Tribunal expressed in the judgement of 10 December 2014, which considers the practice of ritual slaughter in Poland as acceptable and in accordance with the Constitution. The considerations finish with indicating numerous controversies connected with the following judgement.

The principle of the secular nature of the state in the Constitution and the case-law of the Constitutional Court of Italy

The article presents the constitutional principle of the secular nature of the state in the light of selected decisions issued by the Constitutional Court of Italy. Although the Constitution does not specify the said principle, its contents follow from the constitutional law decisions and doctrine. Despite the scope of the issue having been determined over the past few decades, it is continually subject to incessant transformation due to the ever-changing political conditions of the Italian state. The Italian model of secularism designates the legal system of the state and public administration institutions. It also guarantees constitutional equality and freedom and adopts a favourable attitude as far as religious issues are concerned. Also of significance here are conflicts of interests arising from the secular nature of the state. They are often the cause of heated debates and lead to undermining the social and political equilibrium.

Convicts’ Right to Exercise the Freedom of Religion

Religious freedom constitutes the fundamental right of every human being. A right to freely practice a chosen religion and use religious services is also vest- ed to imprisoned people. The article undertakes discussion on a right to religious freedom and its execution in the state of imprisonment. It needs to be stressed that religious freedom of imprisoned individuals is subject to limitations due to a location in which a convict is placed. Discussions on the extent of limitations concerning the right to freedom of religion, have been conducted for a long time. Attempts to find the most effective solutions in order to solve the problem have been long undertaken in penitentiary systems practiced all over the world. This article aims to present legal regulations concerning a right to freedom of religion vested to persons placed in penitentiary institutions, as well as problems arising therefrom. The Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which vests freedom of conscience and religion to all individuals, constitutes a starting point for the dis- cussion. This article undertakes to present regulations found in other legal acts, which are related to the above mentioned concept of religious freedom.

The Constitutional Expression of the Principle of Independence of the State and Religious Associations

The aim of the study is to specify and analyze the expression of the principle of independence of the state and religious associations in contemporary constitutions. This is preceded by an attempt to establish the ideological roots of the principle of independence of the above-mentioned entities. Primarily, the formal-dogmatic and legal-comparative methods were used. The historical and legal method was used as a subsidiary. The texts of all binding constitutions were analyzed in terms of the articulation of the aforementioned principle of religious relations. The principle of independence of the state and religious associations is one of the main normative directives of religious relations in contemporary Poland. It has ideological roots not only in Catholic social teaching, but also in the liberal doctrine. Since the end of the 20th century, it has found a permanent place in the constitutionalism of a number of European secular (non-religious) states and some Latin American states.