El registro de entidades religiosas: Estudio global y sistemático by Enrique Herrera Ceballos (review)

This book presents one of the most relevant juridical institutions involved in the process of legal constitution of religiously affiliated organizations in Spain: the Registry of Religious Entities (RER in Spanish abbreviation). The author develops two arguments, which are intrinsically related to each other. First of all, it cannot be denied that the right to religious freedom and worship has been, and is considered, one of the fundamental human rights. Secondly, the phenomenon of immigration is reflected in the increase of religiously affiliated organizations. These organizations are qualified subjects for the civil recognition of juridical personality, and they also exercise the right of religious freedom and worship.

While the RER is recognized as an essential entity for the ecclesiastical law, there is little scholarship about it. Hence, this valuable book represents the first systematic work on the RER. It is structured into five chapters, which offer a systematic study of the common problems of the RER, both doctrinal and practical. The first chapter presents the nature of the RER. In order to obtain a legal registration it is necessary for the organization’s documents to be legalized. The second chapter discusses the principles, the content, and the extension of this required process. The third chapter develops the religious purposes as one of the two causes of denial for the civil recognition of juridical personality. The fourth chapter discusses the public order, as the second cause of denial of legal constitution. Finally, the fifth chapter presents some historical attempts to reform the RER, which had not been previously published. In the appendix is offered the complete versions of these projects.

The author develops two aspects overlooked by other studies. First of all, he clarifies the current nature and content of the RER. Secondly, the book emphasizes the intrinsic relationship between the RER and two Spanish civil institutions, which also work directly with organizations and religious freedom: the Comisión Asesora de Libertad Religiosa (CALR) and the Subdirección General de Relaciones con las Confeciones (ex DGAR).

The author gives an excellent overview of the RER. He offers the material in a systematic and comprehensible way, while also offering the historical context to understand it. Since this study contributes to one of the most important institutions related to religiously affiliated organizations in Spain, it is highly recommended to people working in the RER. As well, it is a necessary reference for any study about the RER. It can also be of great help to people interested in the relations between Church and State generally.