ARTICLE 137
There is no state church.
Freedom of association in religious societies is guaranteed. The combination of religious societies within the Commonwealth is not subject to any limitations.
Every religious society regulates and administers its affairs independently within the limits of the general law. It appoints its officers without interference by the state or the civil municipality.
Religious societies may be incorporated in accordance with the general provisions of the civil law.
Existing religious societies remain, to the same extent as heretofore, public bodies corporate. The same rights shall be accorded to other religious societies if by their constitution and the number of their members they offer a guaranty of permanence. If a number of such public religious societies unite, this union is also a public body corporate.
The religious societies, which are recognized by law as bodies corporate, are entitled on the basis of the civil tax rolls to raise taxes according to the provisions of the laws of the respective States.
The associations, which have as their aim the cultivation of a system of ethics, have the same privileges as the religious societies.
The issuance of further regulations necessary for carrying out these provisions comes under the jurisdiction of the States.