Die Sonderstellung der Kirchen im Arbeitsrecht - sozialethisch vertretbar?

In Germany, the two major churches and their respective welfare organisations Caritas and Diakonie are amongst the most dominant employers in the country. With regards to the employment law of the churches the German state has granted to them far-reaching special rights. These include a ban on strikes and restrictions of employee participation as well as restrictions of trade union activities. In addition, the churches are able to encroach on their employees’ private lives. The churches justify this by invoking their corporate right of self-determination. They are not bound by the fundamental rights of the state.
This book demonstrates that these fundamental rights should also protect church employees. It also elaborates on legal uncertainties caused by church employment law and asks whether it is still justifiable that religious bodies are taking a special route in this regard.
This book is an advisory report that was commissioned by the Hans-Böckler-Foundation.