Branden Kartchner

The Spanish traveled to Chile to conquer indigenous groups in 1539  and founded Santiago in 1541.  Catholic friars accompanied the conquistadors and evangelized the Catholic faith during the colonization period.  After Chilean independence in 1810, the new government was distrustful of the Catholic Church due to its prior relationship with the Spanish government. Nevertheless, the new government eventually established a strong relationship with the Catholic Church and in the 1833 constitution the Roman Catholic Church was made the official church of the Chilean state.  However, with the influx of immigrants into the country the constitution was interpreted to allow other religions in the country as long as they practiced their faith in private.  Eventually, the number of missionaries from other faiths increased and in 1925 Chilean law was changed to establish secularity in the public sphere.  Citizens were then allowed to practice their beliefs freely.

Contemporarily, the Chilean constitution recognizes religious freedom.  In practice, the government of Chile respects religious freedom. The executive branch has an Office of National Religious Subjects that is responsible for promoting religious freedom and tolerance. Chilean law prohibits religious discrimination and provides for civil legal remedies for violations. Any act of violence that is religiously motivated is prohibited by the criminal code and violators are subject to criminal penalties. To receive nonprofit legal status, religious groups must apply at the Ministry of Justice.  Receiving official religious status is an exceptionally easy process in Chile. Currently, there are more than 2,700 registered religious groups.

Chile has diverse religiosity and the people are well-known for their deep Christian beliefs. The population of Chile is approximately 17,363,894 persons. Of the population, 70% is Catholic, 15% is Evangelical, 1% is Jehovah’s Witness, and 8% has no affiliation. Bahais, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Unification Church, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints constitute the rest of the religious population.  While Catholicism is the dominant religion, Catholic numbers since the 1970s have been decreasing with the injection of increased Protestant, Jehovah’s Witness, and Latter Day Saint denominations into the country.

 

Sources: U.S. State Department 2012 International Religious Freedom Report; CIA World Fact Book; CountryStudies.us; Religion and The State:  An International Analysis of Roles and Relationships