U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2000 - Monaco
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 - Monaco , 5 September 2000, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a89f2c.html [accessed 21 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 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.
Relations among the various religious communities are amicable; however, proselytizing is strongly discouraged.
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 freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice.
Roman Catholicism is the state religion. Most citizens adhere to Roman Catholicism. The Constitution provides the nearly 25,000 noncitizens who live in the principality with the same religious freedom as the approximately 6,000 citizens.
Religious Demography
There are five Catholic churches in the principality and a cathedral presided over by an archbishop. The Catholic Mass generally plays an important role in state festivities, such as the annual national day celebration. Protestantism is the next most practiced religion, with two churches in the principality. Most noncitizens also adhere to either Catholicism or Protestantism, although there are some residents who adhere to Judaism, Islam, or other world religions. There are no mosques or synagogues in the principality.
Governmental Restrictions on Religious Freedom
No missionaries operate in the principality; proselytizing is strongly discouraged. There is no law against proselytizing; however, any group or association that wants to be active must, under the Civil Code, obtain permission to operate from the Government, and religious "sects" routinely are denied such permission.
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
Relations among the various religious communities present in the principality are amicable.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Consulate in Marseille, France discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.