Religious minorities in Spain. A new model of relationships?

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 2003The 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