The (un)constitutionality of religious symbols in public bodies

the selic state and religious freedom

Abstract

The article analyzes whether the presence of religious symbols in public buildings and agencies violates the principle of secularism and the fundamental right to religious freedom. From the understanding of the evolution of secularism and secularism, it demonstrates the historical path in which religious freedom has developed and the need for neutrality of the State in relation to religious phenomena. The theme is current, given the judicialization of lawsuits that seek the protection of religious freedom, a right that is under growing threat in the social sphere. As a result, it is understood to be adequate the removal of symbols belonging to Catholicism from public agencies, since its permanence hurts the secularity of the State, preventing the complete guarantee of religious freedom and the right to belief in other religions. This is a dogmatic-oriented, qualitative, theoretical research, based on specialized bibliographic, documental and jurisprudential material, using the deductive method.