Autonomía de las comunidades religiosas y certificado de idoneidad de los profesores de religión: el caso Pavez Pavez contra Chile

Abstract

The commented case deals with the revocation by the religious authority of the certificate of suitability to work as religious teacher in a municipal school. The certificate was revoked because the teacher was in a same-sex relationship, in contradiction with the Catholic doctrine she had to teach. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights condemned the Chilean state, concluding that Catholic religion classes as part of a public education plan, in public educational establishments, financed by public funds, are not within the spheres of religious freedom that should be free from any interference by the State, since they are not clearly related to religious beliefs or the organizational life of the communities .