The constitution and other laws and policies generally protect religious freedom.
The constitution specifies there is no established church and provides for freedom of religion and belief. A concordat with the Vatican, however, designates Catholicism as the official religion and extends special privileges to the Catholic Church not granted to other religious groups. These include the legal recognition of church law, use of public funds to underwrite some church expenses, and exclusion from customs duties.
Non-Catholic religious groups must first register as a nongovernmental organization and later with the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Customs. Registration requires completing a two-step process: first, the organization must register with the Attorney General’s office by providing documentation of a fixed address and the names of seven elected officers, have a minimum of 25 members, and pay a fee. Second, the organization must draft and submit statutes and provide copies of government-issued identification documents for the board of directors. Religious groups other than the Catholic Church may request exclusion from customs duties from the Ministry of Finance.
The law provides for government recognition of marriages performed by all religious groups on condition they otherwise comply with related regulations. The 2010 constitution states religious marriages have civil effects in terms established by law, subject to the provisions of international treaties. A law extending civil recognition to non-Catholic religious marriages was passed in 2011. It authorizes clergy of churches that have been established in the country for at least five years to perform state-recognized marriages on condition they complete training administered by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and requires churches submit to the JCE a listing of individuals who have received authorization.
The law requires Bible reading in public schools, but the government does not normally enforce this law. Private schools are exempt from this requirement.