Ecclesiastical Law

This course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of Law and Religion, traditionally referred to as Ecclesiastical Law. The subject addresses the body of legal norms that, across various sectors of the legal system, attribute specific relevance to the religious dimension, both individual and collective, and govern, among other things, the relationships between the Republic and religious denominations.
The course seeks to enable students to develop proficiency in both general and specific legal terminology related to Law and Religion, interpret legal sources and analyse case law, apply previously acquired legal knowledge and methods to issues specific to Ecclesiastical Law.
Ecclesiastical Law is part of the bar qualification exam and is also required for competitive public examinations for positions such as State Attorney and member of the Council of State.

1) Knowledge and Understanding.
Students will acquire an understanding of the key legal concepts in Ecclesiastical Law, including religious pluralism, equality irrespective of religion, spiritual progress of society, freedom of religion and conscience, religious denominations, Church-State relations, bilateral agreements, and the Italian principle of laicità.
2) Application of Knowledge and Understanding.
Students will gain the necessary tools to apply the concepts and legal institutions studied to real-world legal cases, including new or unconventional issues in Law and Religion, using an interdisciplinary approach.
3) Critical Thinking and Judgement.
Students will develop independent judgment regarding the interpretation of legal sources and the analysis of case law, as well as the ability to identify the most suitable legal solutions in specific cases regarding Law and Religion.
4) Communication Skills.
Students will acquire both general and specialized legal vocabulary and technical language specific to Law and Religion, as well as of the expository, communicative, and argumentative skills typical of traditional legal professions and of other professional roles involved in managing social and legal complexities within multicultural and multireligious contexts, thereby enabling effective communication with both expert and non-expert interlocutors.
5) Autonomous Learning Ability.
Students will be prepared to the adapt their knowledge in response to the evolving nature of the regulatory and jurisprudential framework, which is characteristic of the legal field in general and of Ecclesiastical Law in particular.