Ius/11 (seminario integralmente in inglese)
Prof. Rik Torfs
Professor at the Faculty of Canon Law, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

2 crediti – 10 ore

Do human rights in the Catholic Church exist? Are they different from fundamental rights in the modern state? An overview will be given concerning the theological and legal foundations of rights in the church.
Specific topics will be tackled: freedom of expression, equality between men and women, due process of law, retroactivity. The importance of rights for the future and quality of canon law will also be at stake. And a true key question which can not be avoided is: are the rights of the Christian faithful formally superior to other canonical norms? The attention the Catholic Church pays to rights is more than relevant for its credibility and even for its future role in modern society.

Suggested reading: R. Torfs, A Healthy Rivalry. Human Rights in the Church, Leuven, Peeters, 1995.