The Legal Position of Catholic Theological Faculties on the Territory of the Czech Republic since 1950 Cover Image

Pozycja prawna katolickich wydziałów teologicznych na terytorium Republiki Czeskiej od 1950 roku
The Legal Position of Catholic Theological Faculties on the Territory of the Czech Republic since 1950

Author(s): Monika Menke
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Canon Law / Church Law
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL & Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Keywords: faculty of theology in the Czech Republic; Church faculties; Communist regime; state supervision over the Church

Summary/Abstract: In 1950, Catholic faculties of theology on the territory of the present-day Czech Republic were unilaterally excluded from the university structures by statute, despite their frequent affiliation with universities from the beginning. Until 1990, the only official theological faculty was the Saints Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology in Prague, with its seat in Litoměřice (the branch of which was partially located in Olomouc in 1968-1974 as an actually operating facility). The reincorporation of those faculties was not possible until 1990, after the Velvet Revolution. Since then we observe a gradual growth of theological faculties and a search for their unique place within the Czech society. The article recapitulates the process of their isolation and reincorporation in the historical and canon law perspective. However, the Church’s establishment of theological faculties is again one of the many manifestations of the autonomy of the Church and religious organisations, which is guaranteed by law in the current legal order of the Czech Republic.

  • Issue Year: 8/2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 29-50
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish