Constitutional Law Connection between the State and Church in the Republic of Slovenia

Article 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia establishes the separation of the state and religious communities. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia has already ruled on the Article and gave its interpretation within the framework of European understanding of the separation of state and churches, as well as any other religious community or belief. Such understanding definitely does not forbid their cooperation; under certain circumstances, it is even welcomed. However, the autonomy of both sides has to be granted. The Church and believers represent the majority of civil society. They collaborate with state institutions in various fields: the media, education, army and elsewhere. The cooperation between the state and Church enables believers to exercise their constitutional and international rights freely.

Key words: constitutional law, State-Church relations, canon law, Catholic Church, religious communities, religious freedom, Constitution, Holy See, Vatican.