Concordats as Instruments for implementing freedom of religion.

The article provides a brief overview of the histoy of concordats, and explores the teaching of Vatican Council II regarding Church-State relations. In light of a rethorical discussion of whether or not Vatican Council II spelled the end of the concordats as such, the author analyses the texts of recent concordats. Thereafter, the network of relations between Church and State is explored, setting out the advantages and the disadvantages of each, and highlighting the model that affords the Catholic Church most sovereignity. Finally, the role of Episcopal Conferences in Church-State relations is addressed, and the risk that national churches may re-emerge is pointed out.