Executive Summary

The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom and, in practice, the government generally respected religious freedom.

There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

U.S. embassy officials met periodically with government officials and religious leaders to discuss religious freedom.

Section I. Religious Demography

The U.S. government estimates the total population at 6.1 million (July 2013 estimate). According to a May survey by the Institute of Public Opinion of the University of Central America, 51 percent of the population identifies as Roman Catholic and 33 percent as Protestant. The survey reported 14 percent as having no religion. Groups that together constitute less than 2 percent of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, Hare Krishnas, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). A small segment of the population adheres to indigenous religious beliefs.

Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom

Legal/Policy Framework

The constitution and other laws and policies generally protect religious freedom. The constitution states that all persons are equal before the law and prohibits discrimination based on religion.

The penal code imposes criminal sentences of six months to two years on those who publicly offend or insult the religious beliefs of others, or damage or destroy religious objects. If such acts are carried out for the purpose of publicity, sentences increase to one to three years in prison. Repeat offenders face prison sentences of three to eight years. There have been no prosecutions under this law.

The constitution requires the president, cabinet ministers, vice ministers, supreme court justices, judges, governors, the attorney general, the public defender, and other senior government officials to be laypersons. In addition, the electoral code requires judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and members of municipal councils to be laypersons.

The constitution grants official recognition to the Catholic Church and states that other religious groups may also apply for official recognition. The law grants tax-exempt status to all officially recognized religious groups. Regulations also make donations to officially recognized religious groups tax-deductible.

The civil code grants equal status to churches and nonprofit foundations. For religious groups, registration with the government confers legal recognition as a religious organization. Although religious groups may carry out religious activities without registering with the government, registration provides tax-exempt status and makes it easier to conduct activities requiring official permits, such as building churches. To obtain official recognition, a religious group must apply through the Office of the Director General for Nonprofit Associations and Foundations (DGFASFL) within the Ministry of Governance. The group must present its constitution and bylaws describing the type of organization, location of its offices, its goals and principles, requirements for membership, function of its ruling bodies, and assessments or dues. Before the DGFASFL grants registration, it must determine that the group's constitution and bylaws do not violate the law. Once a group is registered as a nonprofit religious organization, notice of DGFASFL approval and the group's constitution and bylaws must be published in the official gazette. The DGFASFL does not maintain records on religious groups once it approves their status.

By law, the Ministry of Governance has authority to register, regulate, and oversee the finances of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), non-Catholic churches, and other religious groups. The law specifically exempts the Catholic Church from the registration requirement.

Noncitizens present in the country primarily to proselytize must obtain a special residence visa for religious activities and may not proselytize while on a visitor or tourist visa. There have been no prosecutions under this law since 1997.

Public education is secular. Private religious schools operate freely. All private schools, whether religious or secular, must meet the same standards to obtain Ministry of Education approval.

Government Practices

There were 158 new requests during the year for registration of religious groups, of which 86 were approved, 72 were pending, and none were denied.

Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom

There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, evangelical, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist leaders participated in the Council of Religions for Peace. The Lutheran Church promoted indigenous activities and spirituality through a financial aid program.

Section IV. U.S. Government Policy

U.S. embassy officials met with the ombudsman for human rights, who reported that his office received no complaints about violations of religious freedom during the year. An embassy officer reviewed the registration process for religious groups with the DGFASFL. Embassy officials discussed religious freedom with the Archbishop of San Salvador and the vice chancellor of the archbishop's office. An embassy officer also discussed religious freedom for the indigenous community with the national director of indigenous people and cultural diversity at the Secretariat of Culture.

Other current U.S. Department of State annual reports available in Refworld:

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