Religious Freedom in Times of Covid-19 Pandemic

The Situation in Germany

Abstract

After a look at the constitutional framework and the options for action under the (German) Protection against Infection Act, the paper analyses the measures taken by the State and Church authorities to contain the corona pandemic in terms of their impact on religious freedom. Three decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court which emphasised the high value of religious freedom deserve special attention. In a further perspective, the reactions to the challenge of the pandemic illuminate which is (already) the relevance of religion and its free practice in a secularised society.