The Church and the Law
Catholic Ecclesiology and Its Influence on Bioethical Legislation in Contemporary Europe
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 16901571 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Katarzyna Kowalik (0000-0002-2126-2494, Bialystok University of Technology, corresponding author), Kewin Konrad Bach (Bialystok University of Technology), Agnieszka Żylińska (Bialystok University of Technology), Dagmara Kowalik (0000-0002-4931-4866, Kazimierz Pułaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 1106 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16091106 |
| OpenAlex | W4413641290 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
This article examines the normative influence of the Catholic Church on contemporary legal systems in Europe, with particular emphasis on bioethical legislation concerning abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage. Referring to ecclesiology and the tradition of natural law, this study explores how Catholic moral doctrine shapes or challenges public law in countries with a strong Catholic heritage. A comparative legal method is applied to the legislation of three countries—Poland, France, and the Netherlands—representing distinct models of the relationship between religion and law. The analysis also addresses the tensions between the Church’s teachings and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, highlighting differences in the understanding of human rights, moral authority, and legal pluralism. The findings suggest that, although the Church maintains significant influence in certain jurisdictions, its normative authority is increasingly challenged by secular and pluralistic approaches, particularly in the context of protecting individual dignity and enacted law
Bioethics · Ecclesiology · Legislation · Political science · Theology · Catholicism and Religious Studies · Law · Philosophy · Religious Freedom and Discrimination · Theology and Canon Law Studies
The Critical Legal Studies Movement
Religion in the Modern Netherlands and the Problems of Pluralism
Nations under God
Perspectives of Major World Religions regarding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Morality Politics in Western Europe
Church–State Relations in Europe
Abortion and euthanasia
Secularization versus religious revival in Eastern Europe
Institutional opportunity structures and the Catholic Church
Support for Engaged Couples in Preparation for a Catholic Marriage
The Role of the Catholic Church against Changes and Threats to the Value of Work
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |