LEGAL RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS AND RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
LEGAL RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS AND RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Author(s): Gaetano Dammacco
Subject(s): Economy, Health and medicine and law, Social Norms / Social Control, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: Religious freedom; Economic crisis; Religion’s role; New humanism.
Summary/Abstract: The current pandemic has created new scenarios and problems regarding religious freedom. To combat the spread of the coronavirus, governments have ordered social distance and total closure of numerous activities including the celebration of sacred rites without consulting religious authorities. Religions have accepted the restrictions with a sense of responsibility, but the sacrifice of religious freedom for the faithful has been great. In addition, the effects of the pandemic together with the negative effects of globalization will continue over time, generating economic and social damage. In addition to prayer, religions have invited the faithful to a social commitment to reduce the critical issues of the crisis and specially to combat poverty. It is therefore necessary to analyze some topics: critical issues relating to the limitation of the right to religious freedom; what problems arise in the relations between powers (civil and religious); what problems arise in relations between state and religions; how the constitutional rights of the faithful and citizens are protected; what are the legal problems internal to the different religions, considering that the judgment on the validity of online rites is different; what is the role of religions in the face of the economic crisis. For the first time since the beginning of the human rights era, there has been a serious conflict between human rights, especially for the greater protection given to the right to health. The right to religious freedom also suffered, but it must be considered that the protection of the right to religious freedom also contributes to the recovery of a „good” economy, which can counteract the negative effects of the pandemic and globalization. We must build a personalist humanism, which the alliance between religions can promote. A humanism that respects the rights and dignity of man, against the logic of profit, and that rewrites the ethical rules of the economy. Looking at the post-pandemic, religions can be the soul of the ethical and moral rules that must guide the „good economy” in society to overcome social and economic differences.

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