從宗教自由檢討「宗教團體法草案」（上）

Abstract

本文的目的，在於探究我國憲法第十三條所保障的宗教自由基本權的內涵。在我國的現今時空下，宗教自由確實有必要作為憲法基本權被保障？國家是否可以透過法律，直接規範人民的宗教生活領域？如果可以，該法律的界限應設在哪裡，才不至於違反憲法上保護宗教自由的要求？這些也是本文所欲處理的問題。其次，在前述的基礎上，探討在宗教自由保護下宗教團體的地位；並進而針對九十四年三月由行政院送交立法院審議的「宗教團體法草案」 ，作出相應的分析與檢討，亦即，在該草案中，哪些規定逾越了應有的界限，進而侵犯了人民或宗教團體的宗教自由；並且，對這些本文認為不妥之處，嘗試提出可能的改進意見。最後，本文會對整部草案提出歸納式的意見，包括草案的缺失及修正的方向。

This article is aimed to clarify the meanings of the basic right of religious freedom, which is protected by Clause 13 of the Constitution. Is it actually necessary to protect religious freedom in Taiwan at the present time as a basic right? Can a country directly regulate the religious life of its people by means of legislation? If the answer is yes, then how can the country regulate it without violating the constitutional demand for protection of this basic right? These questions are addressed in this part of the discussion. Moreover, issues related to the protection of religious communities and a draft made by the Executive Yuan are also main points examined in this article.