La tutela delle esigenze religiose in ambito locale. Una ricerca sul campo: le province di Cremona, Lodi, Piacenza

The analysis of administrative acts issued on matters of religious interest by municipalities in the provinces of Cremona, Lodi and Piacenza highlights some interesting aspects of local management of citizens’ religious needs. First, it points out the potential areas of intervention with respect to municipal functions and powers: for example, the building of places of worship, the organization of school canteens, the legislation on cemeteries, the financial support for oratories and parishes etc. Second, it allows you to identify the forms in which the administrative action can occur: the «unilateral» one, made up of municipal regulations, resolutions and determinations, and the bilateral form, consisting of the Agreements and Accords, which are established at the local level between municipalities and the representatives of religious denominations that live in the area, regardless of the existence of their official recognition by the «central» State. From an overall analysis of these provisions it is possible to identify some strengths and weaknesses of the local management of religious diversity and, starting from these, to identify good practices to follow for an effective and efficient protection of the everyday problems of religious freedom in the diverse communities, who share the same territory. For a virtuous management of plural religious needs at the local level, it is required an integration between cultural, political and social tools, which can address the objectives of knowledge, participation and inclusion of different religious communities, and legal-administrative tools that, in accordance with the principles of impartiality and efficiency of public administration, may take advantage of the ductility of the action of the local authorities.