Editing Separation of church and state (section)

===Germany===
{{See also|Religion in Germany}}
[[File:S95CrucifixCourtroomNuremberg.jpg|thumb|left|Courtroom with Crucifix in Nuremberg, Germany, June 2016]]
The [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|German constitution]] guarantees [[freedom of religion]],<ref name="Section 4 of German Basic Law">Section 4 of German Basic Law</ref> but there is not a complete separation of church and state in Germany. Officially recognized religious bodies operate as {{Lang|de|Körperschaften des öffentlichen Rechts}} ([[statutory corporation|corporations of public law]], as opposed to private). For recognized religious communities, some taxes ({{Lang|de|Kirchensteuer}}) are collected by the state;<ref>Binder, Gerhard/Wagner, Jürgen, Grundwissen Grundgesetz.p 165.Klett.</ref> this is at the request of the religious community and a fee is charged for the service.<ref>1.5% to 4.5% of the amount collected, depending on the state (''Land'')<br />{{cite book |editor1-last = Leif | editor1-first = Thomas| editor2-first = Rudolf | editor2-last=Speth| title = Die fünfte Gewalt: Lobbyismus in Deutschland|trans-title=The Fifth Estate: Lobbyism in Germany| year = 2006| publisher = VL Verlag| language = de| isbn = 978-3531150338| page = 262}}</ref> Religious instruction is an optional school subject in Germany.<ref name="Section 4 of German Basic Law" /> The German State understands itself as neutral in matters of religious beliefs,<ref>Binder, Gerhard/Wagner, Jürgen, Grundwissen Grundgesetz.p 17. Klett.</ref> so no teacher can be forced to teach religion. But on the other hand, all who do teach religious instruction need an official permission by their religious community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.erzbistum-koeln.de/schule-hochschule/religionspaedagogik/kb/index.html |title=Kirchliche Bevollmächtigung |publisher=Erzbistum-koeln.de |access-date=2012-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406093500/http://www.erzbistum-koeln.de/schule-hochschule/religionspaedagogik/kb/index.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref> The treaties with the [[Holy See]] are referred to as [[Concordats with individual states of Germany|concordats]] whereas the treaties with Protestant Churches and umbrellas of Jewish congregations are called "state treaties". Both are the legal framework for cooperation between the religious bodies and the German State at the federal as well as at the state level.<ref>Christian, Hermes, Konkordate im vereinigten Deutschland. Grünewald.</ref>