State financial support for religion in Italy. The impact of laws negotiated with religious denominations on public spending

The essay analyses the evolution of public financing of religious denominations in Italye, from the patrimonial structure of “ecclesiastical benefices” (benefici ecclesiastici) to the new discipline of the financial support of the clergy in Italy introduced by Law No. 222 of 1985. Particular attention will be devoted to the analysis of the funding mechanisms provided by the laws negotiated with religious denominations, starting with the controversial instrument of the eight per thousand. In addition, the article highlights how over time the State’s stipulation of Concordats with Catholic Church and agreements (Intese) with non-Catholic denominations has become a discriminating factor in access to funding, and, therefore, in the overall legal status of religious denominations, with a blatant violation of the principle of equality in freedom provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Italian Constitution. In conclusion, through the analysis of the critical issues of the system of public financing of religious denominations, the contribution focuses on the excessive impact it has on Italian public spending, suggesting some achievable options for establishing a system capable of guaranteeing uniform criteria for public financing, without distinguishing between religious denominations