Some interesting background on the Religious Demographics of Chile...
From Wikipedia ( very well referenced. My Comments added in parenthesis )
In the most recent census (2002), 70 percent of the population over age 14 identified as Roman Catholic and 15.1 percent as evangelical.
In the census, the term “evangelical” referred to all non-Catholic Christian churches with the exception of the Orthodox Church (Greek, Persian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Armenian), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Approximately 90 percent of evangelicals are Pentecostal. Wesleyan, Lutheran, Reformed Evangelical, Presbyterian, Anglican, Episcopalian, Baptist and Methodist churches are also present.
Irreligious people, atheists and agnostics, account for around 8% of the population ( in the USA, we have a higher percentage of irreligious people, atheists and agnostics, close to 15% ).
The Chilean Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The law at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors.
Church and state are officially separate in Chile. The 1999 law on religion prohibits religious discrimination. However, the Catholic Church enjoys a privileged status and occasionally receives preferential treatment.
Government officials attend Catholic events as well as major Protestant and Jewish ceremonies.
The Government-observed religious holidays include Christmas, Good Friday, the Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception as national holidays.
The government has recently declared October 31, Reformation Day, a public national holiday, in honor of the Protestant churches of the country ( I have been told by a Roman Catholic priest, a Jesuit, that evangelicals are the fastest growing religious group in the country ).
Good news! Chileans do not have the concerns our nation does in fearing the mention of God might "offend" someone. They have more freedom in that respect then we do
Love Corries quote: "There is no pit so deep He is not deeper still"......these miners know the full truth of this.
Good news! Chileans do not have the concerns our nation does in fearing the mention of God might "offend" someone. They have more freedom in that respect then we do
Love Corries quote: "There is no pit so deep He is not deeper still"......these miners know the full truth of this.