Is German Religionsverfassungsrecht under threat from the European Union?

Abstract

Two recent judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) raise fundamental questions about the relationship between European Union Law and German religious constitutional law. This article outlines the German constitutional context for the law of labour relations within religious associations before considering those judgments in detail. The article argues that in its approach to religious occupational requirements and loyalty obligations the case law of the CJEU risks bringing about a fundamental change in German religious constitutional law. This is in breach of the terms of membership of Germany in the European Union and contrary to European law itself.