El SalvadorInternational Religious Freedom Report 2002 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the
Government generally respects this right in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious
freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy
continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The generally amicable relationship among religions in
society contributed to religious freedom. The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with
the Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of
promoting human rights. Section I. Religious Demography The country has a total area of approximately 109,500 square
miles, and its population is estimated at 12,100,000. The General Registry
of Religious Entities has registered 1,330 different religious groups,
churches, societies, Christian fraternities, and foundations. Together with the military and the Government, the Roman
Catholic Church is viewed widely as one of the three pillars of society.
The overwhelming majority of the population considers itself to be Roman
Catholic, although many citizens do not practice the religion regularly,
or instead follow a syncretistic version that combines indigenous beliefs
with orthodox Catholic doctrine. For example, many indigenous people who
live in the mountains follow a brand of Catholicism that combines
indigenous beliefs with orthodox Catholic doctrine. Saints often are
venerated in ways similar to the ways in which indigenous deities were
venerated. In 2001 the Catholic Church had 1 Cardinal, 34 bishops, and
1,766 priests to minister in 1,200 parishes. Some Christian, non-Catholic, multidenominational groups,
such as the Gospel Missionary Union, the Christian and Missionary
Alliance, and Hoy Cristo Jesus Bendice, have been active in the country
for many years. Other active Protestant groups include the Evangelical
Group, World Vision, and the Summer Institute of Linguistics, which
operates in remote areas with the objective of translating the Bible into
indigenous languages. The combination of poverty, neglect, and syncretistic
practices in urban and rural areas created conditions that were conducive
to the spread of Protestant missionary and Pentecostal evangelical
activity. Southern Baptists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, and Pentecostals have been
successful in finding converts in different parts of the country,
particularly among indigenous people in the Sierra provinces of Chimborazo
and Pichincha, persons who practice syncretic religions, and groups that
are marginalized by society. The following faiths and denominations also are present in
the country, but in relatively small numbers: Anglican, Assembly of God,
Baha'i, Buddhist, Episcopalian, Hindu, Jewish, Lutheran, Muslim, Eastern
Orthodox, Presbyterian, Rosicrucians, the Unification Church, and the
Church of Scientology. Two relatively new groups are the Native American
churches of Itzachilatan, whose adherents practice indigenous healing
rites and nature worship, and the followers of Inti, the traditional Inca
sun god. Atheists also exist. Section II. Status of Religious Freedom Legal/Policy Framework The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the
Government generally respects this right in practice. The Government at
all levels strives to protect this right in full and does not tolerate its
abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Constitution grants
all citizens and foreigners the right to practice the faith of their
choice freely, in public or in private; the only limits are "those
proscribed by law to protect and respect the diversity, plurality,
security, and rights of others." The Constitution prohibits discrimination
based on religion. The Government does not require religious groups to be
licensed or registered unless they engage in commercial activity.
Requirements for registration are outlined in "The Regulation of Religious
Groups" of 2000. These requirements include: Nonprofit status; information
on the nationality and residence of group leaders; and the names used by
the group, to ensure that names of previously registered groups are not
used without their permission. Any religious group wishing to register
with the Government must file a petition with the Ministry of Government
and provide documentation through a licensed attorney. At the political level, the Government retains strong ties
to the Vatican; the Papal Nuncio is the customary dean of the diplomatic
corps. The Government permits missionary activity and religious
demonstrations by all religions. The Government does not permit religious instruction in
public schools; private schools have complete liberty to provide religious
instruction, as do parents in the home. There are no restrictions on
publishing religious materials in any language. Restrictions on Religious Freedom Government policy and practice contributed to the generally
free practice of religion. There were no reports of religious prisoners or
detainees. Forced Religious Conversion There were no reports of forced religious conversion,
including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally
removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens
to return to the United States. Section III. Societal Attitudes Although relations between religious communities generally
have been amicable, there have been a few incidents of interreligious or
intrareligious tension or violence during periods prior to that covered by
this report. In general religious tensions tend to be intrareligious and
largely stem from power struggles and personality differences. Section IV. U.S. Government Policy The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting
human rights. Released on October 7, 2002 International Religious Freedom Report Home Page |