Libertà di culto e nuove tecnologie, con particolare riferimento alla religione cattolica (una doppia prospettiva, statale ed ecclesiale)

As it is known, during the period of COVID-19 crisis, there has been a huge use of new technologies and a significative improvement of these means. Indeed, the latters have been able satisfy the daily needs of each of us. However, at the same time, such a massive use of NT has enhanced the gap between “online relationship life” and the “offline” one. The latter, of course, increased a lot. Therefore, NT have been crucial for the exercise of fundamental rights during COVID-19 crisis since they have been severely restricted during that period. Even if such a topic cannot be easily analyzed, it is necessary to ask ourselves whether the “virtual” space can allow the exercise and protection of rights or if such prerogatives can only be exercised and granted in a “physical” space. Specifically, the aim of the essay is to focus on the freedom of worship and particularly on the exercise of this freedom in relation to che Catholic religion. Indeed, when Churches were closed because of pandemic the freedom of worship has been exercised in the “net” (a word that has a very strong evangelical meaning) seemed to be an (almost) absolute novelty. Putting aside the reflections related to the legitimacy of restrictive measure that have been adopted all over the world during the COVID-19 crisis, it is necessary to reflect on the adequacy of the use of NT for the exercise of religious freedoms. Particularly, the attention will be focused on the compatibility of such measures with art. 19 of Italian Constitution. The issue will be analyzed from a constitutional and ecclesiastical perspective in order to understand how the exercise of religious freedom can coexist with the use of NT. Indeed, both perspectives will be necessary in order to avoid having a partial and insufficient approach to these issues.