Association pour la promotion et l'expansion de la laicite [Traitement des pasteurs des eglises consistoriales dans les departements du Bas-Rhin, du Haut-Rhin et de la Moselle]: (No 2012-297 QPC): Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council) France: Preliminary reference on constitutionality: 21 February 2013

Abstract

Separation of church and state – Priests' stipends – State support for religion – Law providing for separation of church and state and prohibiting state subsidy of religion – Special legal regime for recognized churches in three départements in Eastern France providing Protestant Church pastors’ stipends to be paid for by state – Ex post constitutional review – Preliminary reference on constitutionality of special legal regime – Whether regime complied with principle of laïcité – Law of 18 Germinal, an X (8 April 1802) – Law of 9 December 1905 on the Separation of Churches and State