U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2002 - Bahamas
- Document source:
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Date:
7 October 2002
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 the 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 land area of 166 square miles, and its population is approximately 265,000. Christianity is the dominant religion, of which members of the Anglican church constitute a majority. There also are significant numbers of adherents to the Pentecostal, Methodist, Moravian, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptist, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) congregations. Other religions include Rastafarianism, the Baha'i Faith, Judaism, and Islam. Several denominations sponsor missionary activities.
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 Government is secular, but most government officials are Christian. The Government does not take any steps to promote interfaith understanding. Christian holy days such as Good Friday, Easter, Whit Monday, and Christmas are national holidays.
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 be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
The country has a history of being open and tolerant of diverse forms of worship. Relations between the various religious communities are generally amicable. The Barbados Christian Council and the Caribbean Conference of Churches conduct activities to promote greater mutual understanding and tolerance among adherents of different denominations within the Christian faith.
Although society is dominated by Christian attitudes, values and mores, individuals respect the rights of religious minorities such as Jews, Baha'is, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and others.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with the Government, local groups, and other organizations in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights.
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