U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 - Sao Tome and Principe
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 5 September 2000 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 - Sao Tome and Principe , 5 September 2000, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a88220.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Comments | This report is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. The 2000 Report covers the period from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000 |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government respects this right in practice.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
Both government policy and the generally amicable relationship among religions in society contribute to the free practice of religion.
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. Government Policies on Freedom of Religion
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution provides for religious freedom, and the Government respects this right in practice. The Government at all levels generally protects this right in full, and does not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors. There is no state religion.
Religious Demography
The country is predominantly Roman Catholic. Approximately 90 percent of the population are Catholic, 5 percent practice traditional indigenous religions, 5 percent are atheist, and less than 1 percent are Protestant.
There are no restrictions on the activities of foreign clergy. There are Catholic and Protestant missionaries in the country. Missionaries of other religions also operated unhindered.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners.
Forced Religious Conversion of Minor U.S. Citizens
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the Government's refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
There are amicable relations between the various religious communities.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy, based in Libreville, Gabon, discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.
In addition, embassy officials regularly meet with the country's Catholic bishop during visits.
