Overview:

• State privilege is bestowed to the Catholic Church.

• Partial recognition is therefore in effect because the Catholic Church is exempt from the requirements that all other groups are required to fulfil without receiving the same degree of recognition overall.

• The Catholic Church has a form of existential recognition not bestowed to any other group.

• Recognition and registration are amalgamated for all non-Catholic groups rather than ideally differentiated; a focus is placed on legal registration rather than existential recognition.

• The informational requirements for registration seem appropriate although monitor is needed to ensure that abuse of these requirements does not take place that will hold detrimental effect on religious freedoms.

• Government involvement in the internal affairs of religious organisations is inappropriate.

• Ongoing gang violence against minorities and religious leaders is a demonstration of the government’s lack of authority to ensure provisions for freedom of religion or belief.

Positive elements:

• Nil.

Recommendations:

• Establish sufficient procedures for existential recognition.

• Equalisation of recognition statuses and the revocation of state privilege; benefits should be available to all groups.

• Reduce existent restrictions.