European secularism: analysis of the funding mechanisms of churches and religious denominations in six European countries

This study analyses the models of public and private funding and the adjacent administrative processes in practice in a group of European countries of Catholic majority, where a specific type of state-religions relations prevails: separation with cooperation, churches’ hierarchy, and religious freedom. By examining the object of our study, the funding of religion, we will be able to create a more comprehensive dialogue on secularism. Thus, we propose a research on the funding mechanisms – financial compensations, direct or indirect tax advantages or tax assignation – that States and taxpayers offer or can offer to churches and religious denominations. The methodology employed to compare Austria, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain will help us to think about the new challenges and trends of State-religions relations in European contemporary societies.