Este artículo analiza críticamente la gestación de la Ley de Separación francesa de 1905, su contexto social, las líneas básicas de su contenido, especialmente el significado y alcance de las asociaciones cultuales y el fin de la financiación estatal a los cultos reconocidos napoleónicos, así como su acogida por la Iglesia, la crisis en las relaciones Iglesia-Estado, y el itinerario recorrido hasta la resolución del problema con la adopción de la fórmula de las asociaciones dio-cesanas. Reflexionase sobre la génesis traumática del principio de laicidad y sus consecuencias, al redefinir una nueva legislación estatal, cuyas consecuencias llegan hasta nuestros días. ; This paper analyzes critically how the French Law of Separation of 1905 came into being, explaining its social context, its main contents, and especially, the meaning and scope of the so-called associations of cult, and the end of public financial support for recognized religious cults established in Napoleonic times. It describes its reception by the Church, the crisis in the relations between Church and State, and the long march towards the resolution of this problem, through the adoption of the new category of diocesan associations. We reflect on the traumatic genesis of the idea of laïcité, and how this affected changes in legislation, whose consequences are still in force.
Esta semblanza biográfica está dedicada al profesor Alberto Pérez Calvo, que ha sido catedrático de Derecho Constitucional en la Universidad Pública de Navarra, durante más de dos décadas. Nacido en Tudela en 1944, obtuvo su doctorado en Derecho por la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Valladolid. Enseñó en esta Facultad de Derecho, y en las de las universidades de Salamanca, Alcalá, y Pública de Navarra. Ha tenido una larga experiencia internacional en Francia, Italia, Suiza, Moldavia, Polonia, Turquía, Canadá, Estados Unidos, Bolivia, México y Túnez. En 2003 fue premiado con el Doctorado Honoris Causa por la Universidad Nancy-2 (Francia). Ha desarrollado asimismo una amplia carrera como servidor público, desde el puesto de director general de Administraciones Públicas. Sus principales contribuciones y publicaciones se han centrado en el estudio de la estructura del Estado, de las Comunidades Autónomas en España, la idea de Nación, la institución del Defensor del Pueblo, la Unión Europea, y la teoría general del derecho público. ; This biographical sketch is dedicated to professor Alberto Pérez Calvo, Full professor of Constitutional Law at the Public University of Navarre, during more of two decades. Born in Tudela in 1944, he obtained his PhD in the Faculty of Law of San Sebastian (University of Valladolid). He taught at this Faculty of Law, and in the Faculties of Law of Salamanca, Alcalá, and Public University of Navarre. He had a large international experience in France, Italy, Suisse, Moldavia, Poland, Turkey, Canada, USA, Bolivia, México, and Tunisia. In 2003, he was awarded with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Nancy-2 (France). He also developed and intense life as public servant, being General Director of Public Administrations. His main contributions and publications are focused in the study of the State's structure, the Autonomous Communities in Spain, the idea of Nation, the Ombudsman's institution, the European Union, and the General Theory of Public Law.
Trabajo presentado a la 2002 CESNUR International Conference: "Minority religions, social change and freedom of conscience". Salt Lake City y Provo (Utah, Estados Unidos), 20-23 de junio de 2003 ; The enactment of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 supposed a new model of relationships between the State and the religious groups, abandoning the traditional model of interactions between the Catholic Church and the State. The new model, at least from a theoretical perspective, is characterized by the neutrality of the State. In our study, we will approach the main deficiencies of our legal system, especially in ordinary legislation, attempting to point out the insufficiencies of the model drawn up in the Organic Law 7/1980, of July 5, or Religious Freedom from a double perspective: 1) The neutrality of the State, proclaimed in the article 16.3 Spanish Constitution, with special reference to those not integrated into the majority religious groups.