La libertad religiosa en España. ¿Hacia un nuevo modelo normativo?

Abstract

On the occasion of a possible new law about religious freedom, this editorial board, from the position the State takes to the religion, does some research on the issue of religious freedom into different Western countries. Then, the regulation of religious freedom is described in Spain, after a reference to the declaration of Vatican II on Religious Freedom. Also, the 1980 Organic Law of Religious Freedom is presented according to the principles of the 1978 Constitution. Later, it analyses the changes of the last thirty years, and then it describes some social facts and their connection to religious freedom, along with the challenges posed by the growth of Muslim worshippers in Spain. The editorial board finishes with some guidelines to make more full the fundamental right of religious freedom for all citizens, from the perspective of a “comprehensive secularism”. Our review of the right to religious freedom in Spain is positive, creative and open. We think that from our Spanish constitutional conception of secularism, our idea of “comprehensive secularism” can be developed. The personalist tradition integral humanism inspires our thinking to a humanistic and supportive of religious freedom.