Section 3
Religion and religious communities
Art. 142
(1) There shall be no state church
(2) The freedom of assembly for domestic worship, public rituals and religious communities and their association within Bavaria shall not be subject to any restrictions within the framework of the generally applicable laws
(3) 1 Churches and recognised religious communities and philosophical communities with aims in compliance with the generally applicable laws shall be free from interference by the state 2 They shall autonomously order and administer their affairs within the limits of the laws applicable to everybody 3 They shall award their offices without the involvement of the state or the political municipality
Art. 143
(1) Religious communities and philosophical communities shall acquire legal capacity in accordance with the regulations of civil law
(2) 1 Churches and recognised religious communities who previously were bodies corporate under public law shall maintain their status 2 Other recognised religious communities and other philosophical communities with aims in compliance with the generally applicable laws that have existed for five years must be granted the same rights on application
(3) Churches and religious communities and philosophical communities that are bodies corporate under public law may levy taxes based on the public tax list
Art. 144
(1) Clerics shall enjoy the protection of the state in the exercise of their official duties
(2) Any public defamation of a region, its institutions, clerics and members of religious orders in their religious capacity shall be prohibited and punishable
(3) Courts and other authorities cannot compel clerics to provide information about facts which had been entrusted to them in their pastoral activity
Art. 145
(1) The previous benefits of the state or the political municipalities for the religious communities based on a law, contract or other title shall be maintained
(2) New voluntary benefits of the state, the political municipalities and the associations of municipalities for a religious community shall be covered by surcharges to the state taxes and assessments of the members of the respective religious community
Art. 146
The property and other rights of the religious communities, religious associations, orders, congregations, or philosophical communities in institutions, foundations, and other assets intended for purposes of worship, education, or charity shall be guaranteed
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