COVID-19, Law, and Religion in Belgium: When Emergency Weakens Legal and Religious Categories

What was the impact of COVID-19 on religion in Belgium? After a brief description of the Belgian context, the chapter examines the role of religious authorities in supporting state action to curb the spread of the virus. Then, the analysis highlights how public authorities initially neglected religious considerations but later shifted towards greater consideration of religious issues, in part due to case law. Several observations are drawn, including the need for a collaborative approach between religious and public authorities in such circumstances, the difficulty of creating measures that reflect the diversity of religious practices, and the importance of judicial review in defining the acceptable limits to freedom of religion. Finally, while the context of emergency induced by the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened legal and religious categories, it has also provided an opportunity to rethink the mechanisms of dialogue and cooperation between religious groups and the state to promote effective and inclusive policies.