Piotr Stanisz

Rev. Professor Piotr Stanisz is a Full Professor of Law at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), where he serves as Head of the Department of Law on Religion since 2008. He previously held significant administrative positions as Dean of the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration (2012-2016) and Vice-dean of the same faculty (2008-2012). His academic career spans multiple disciplines as evidenced by his diverse educational background in Law, Canon Law, and Theology.

Professor Stanisz earned his educational qualifications through an impressive academic journey: Full Professor of Law (2022), Habilitation in Law (2007), PhD in Law (2000), and Master's degrees in Law (1999), Canon Law (1997), and Theology (1991). His scholarly path reflects the interdisciplinary nature of his work at the intersection of law, religion, and public policy.

His research focuses on the complex intersection of law and religion, with particular expertise in Church-State relations. Professor Stanisz has made significant contributions to understanding agreements between states and religious organizations, financing of ecclesiastical entities, religious freedom in relation to other protected values, religious symbols in the public sphere, autonomy of religious organizations, conscientious objection, and the legal status of clergy. His work has become especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he has examined restrictions on religious freedom and the Church's communication strategies during public health crises. His publications reveal a consistent engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical implementation challenges in religious freedom law across European contexts.

Professor Stanisz's extensive scholarly output demonstrates his leadership in the field of law and religion. His recent publications show increasing focus on contemporary issues such as religious education in schools, the legal status of "invented religions," taxation of religious organizations, and the impact of migration flows on religious communities. His work combines doctrinal legal analysis with consideration of practical challenges faced by religious communities in contemporary European societies.

Professor Stanisz maintains an active international scholarly presence through numerous visiting professorships at institutions including the Catholic University of Milan, Catholic University of Leuven, and various Italian universities. He serves as chief editor of "Studia z Prawa Wyznaniowego (Studies in Law on Religion)" since 2011 and participates in multiple editorial boards of law and religion journals across Europe. His involvement in scholarly networks includes the European Consortium for Church and State Research and the Polish Society of Law on Religion, where he serves as vice-president.

Professor Stanisz actively engages with public discourse through popular science articles and interviews in media outlets such as "Gość Niedzielny," "Aleteia," and "eKAI," where he addresses contemporary issues at the intersection of law, religion, and public life in Poland. His work extends beyond pure scholarship into practical legal consultation, having provided expert opinions on matters including the legal consequences of the Lisbon Treaty for Polish religious law and the legal implications of removing crosses from the plenary session hall of the Polish Parliament.