Abstract

This paper examines the issue concerning bioethics as a matter of agreements between the State and different religious denominations in the Italian legal system. After some preliminary remarks about the principles of secularism, equality, and religious freedom in the Italian system, the paper focuses on some provisions of agreements reached with different denominations and concerning issues related to intercultural bioethics, such as circumcision rites, food and dietary religious practices, and burial rites. The paper ends with remarks about the relevance of religion in the development of bio-law.