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Borders of Religious Autonomy in Hungary

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Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 18))

Abstract

Hungary has no system of personal laws. Marriage became secular with the civil marriage law of 1895. State laws do not include religious rules in the strict sense. The autonomy of religious communities is respected by the state. This autonomy includes the respect of the identity of institutions run by religious communities. Internal rules of religious communities would qualify as “religious rules”. Religious rules are generally not applicable in the state legal system but in certain cases the state law does refer to the internal rules of religious communities. The internal jurisdiction (like on the issues of marriage in the case of the Catholic Church or other internal decisions) have no significance of any kind for the state. Traditional religious minorities are well integrated into society and the challenge of integrating large numbers of migrants with a diverse religious background has not gained much relevance yet. There are no indications in Hungary that a significant number of citizens apply religious rules in conflict with state laws.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Census data available at: http://www.ksh.hu/nepszamlalas/vallas_sb

  2. 2.

    Data available at: http://www.bmbah.hu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=492&Itemid=1259&lang=en#

  3. 3.

    Decision 4/1993. (II. 12.) AB. In English: L. Sólyom & G. Brunner (eds.): Constitutional Judiciary in a New Democracy: the Hungarian Constitutional Court. Michigan, 2000.

  4. 4.

    Decision 8/1993. (II. 27.) AB.

  5. 5.

    At the time of the case: Act XXII/1992 §125. The new labor code contains similar regulations: Act I/2012 § 102 (1), (5).

  6. 6.

    Decision 10/1993 (II. 27) AB.

  7. 7.

    The solution the Constitutional Court has reached in this case is similar to the one the Supreme Court of the United States of America reached in the McGowan v. Maryland : ‘There is no dispute that the original laws which dealt with Sunday labor were motivated by religious forces. [However], the present purpose and effect is to provide a uniform day of rest for all citizens; the fact that this day is Sunday, a day of particular significance for dominant Christian sects, does not bar the State from achieving its secular goals.’ [366 U.S. 420 (1961)].

  8. 8.

    Act XXII/1992. (Labour Code) §134(3). According to the current legislation seven days per year can be decided by the employee unilaterally: Act I/2012. § 122 (2).

  9. 9.

    Act XXVIII/1998 §19 (d).

  10. 10.

    Decision 4/1993. (II. 12.) AB.

  11. 11.

    Act CCVI/2011. §8 (2).

  12. 12.

    Act CCVI/2011. §12(1).

  13. 13.

    BH 2004.180.

  14. 14.

    Act CCVI/2011. §13(3).

  15. 15.

    Act III/1952. §170(1)c).

  16. 16.

    Act CLX/2004. §53(3)b).

  17. 17.

    Act XIX/1988. §81(1)a).

  18. 18.

    Act CXIII/2011. §12(2)f).

  19. 19.

    Act XXXII/1992. §2(4).

  20. 20.

    Decision 1/1995. (II. 8.) AB.

  21. 21.

    Act XIX/1998. § 51.§(3).

  22. 22.

    7.P.21.766/1997/5.

  23. 23.

    4.Pf.22.069/1997/4.

  24. 24.

    Pfv.VI.21.240/1998/2.

  25. 25.

    3.M.554/1998/9.

  26. 26.

    2.Mf.21.703/1999/3.

  27. 27.

    Mfv.I.10.168/2000.

  28. 28.

    Decision 32/2003. (VI.4.) AB.

  29. 29.

    Basic Law Art. VII.(3).

  30. 30.

    Act CCVI/2011. §8(2).

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Schanda, B. (2016). Borders of Religious Autonomy in Hungary. In: Bottoni, R., Cristofori, R., Ferrari, S. (eds) Religious Rules, State Law, and Normative Pluralism - A Comparative Overview. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28335-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28335-7_12

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