Folia Canonica 8. (2005)

STUDIES - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: The Changes of Modern Era Relation of Church and State in Europe

FOLIA CANONICA 8 (2005) 65-77.

SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI

THE CHANGES OF MODERN ERA RELATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN EUROPE

I. Historical Setting; II. Separation of Church and State in the modern Era; III. role of the Apostolic Holy See on international level in the relationship of Church and State; IV. “Secularization” of Constitutions; Summary.

I. Historical Setting

Basically, there are two major changes, which caused strong influence to the modem era relation of Church and State. One is the radical transformation took place in political environment, which can be recognized in their reaction to the new faith of some secular sovereign even at the start of Reformation (1517).' This tendency was strengthen by the secession of the Anglican Church from Rome ( 1536), which openly expressed its intention to implementing State or National “Churches ” against the Church, which is universal, independent of political power or even above it, and a preserver of ecclesiastical tradition.1 2 The Catholic Church took adequate measures on theological level at the Council of Trent (1545—1563)3 4 and the Vatican Council I (1869-1870),4 which expressed that po1 Venard, M. (ed.), Les temps des confessions (1530-1620/30) [Histoire du Christianisme des origines à nos jours 8], Paris 1992. 355-357.

2Dickens, A.G., The English Reformation, London 1964. 149-150, 411-412.

3 Cone. Tridentinum, Sess. II (7 ian. 1546); Ad haec cum huius sacrosancti concilii praecipua cura, sollicitudo et intentio sit, ut propulsatis haeresum tenebris (quae per tot annos operuerunt terram) catholicae veritatis lux (Iesu Christo, qui vera lux est, annuente), candor puritasque refulgeat et ea, quae reformatione egent, reformentur: ipsa synodus hortatur omnes catholicos hic congregatos et congregandos atque eos praesertim, qui sacrarum litterarum peritiam habent, ut sedula meditatione diligenter secum ipsi cogitent, quibus potissimum viis et modis ipsius synodi intentio dirigi et optatum effectum sortiri possit, quo maturis et consultius damnari damnanda, et probanda probari queant, ut per totum orbem omnes uno ore et eadem fidei confessione glorificient Deum et Patrem domini nostri Iesu Christi. Conciliorum Oecumencorum Decreta, Bologna 1973 (hereafter COD) 661.

4 Cone. Vaticanum /, Sess. Ill (24 apr. 1870): Verumtamen haec aliaque insignia emolumenta, quae per ultimam maxime oecumenicam synodum divina clementia ecclesiae largita est, dum grato, quo par est, animo recolimus, acerbum compescere haud possumus dolorem ob mala gravissima, inde potissimum orta, quod eiusdem sacrosanctae synodi apud permultos vel auctoritas contempta, vel sapientissima neglecta fuere decreta. Nemo enim ignorat, haereses, quas Tridentini patres proscripserant, dum,