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Grenada

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Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
August 10, 2016

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Executive SummaryShare    

The constitution protects freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and religion. Certain types of religious headdress are permitted in photographs for national identity documents, provided the face is visible and not shadowed. The criminal code prohibits written blasphemous, vulgar language.

The government funds public schools administered by long-established Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventists and Mennonite communities. In accordance with the constitution’s protections for freedom of conscience and religion, students at such schools are not obliged to attend religion classes.

There were no reports of significant government or societal actions affecting religious freedom.

Embassy officials engaged government officials and members of the country’s religious communities to discuss religious freedom in law and in practice.

Section I. Religious DemographyShare    

The U.S. government estimates the total population at 111,000 (July 2015 estimate). According to the 2013 census, 53 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 13.8 percent is Anglican, and 31.2 percent primarily other Protestants. Religious groups with totals of 2 percent or less of the population include Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, members of the Church of God, and evangelical groups. Smaller groups include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Brethren, Bahais, Hindus, Moravians, Muslims, Rastafarians, Mennonites, and members of the Salvation Army and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). There is a small Jewish community.

Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious FreedomShare    

Legal Framework

The constitution protects the “freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and of religion.” It guarantees the right to change one’s religion and to manifest and propagate it. The constitution prohibits forced participation in any religious ceremony or instruction.

Certain types of religious headdress are permitted in photographs for national identity documents, provided the face is visible and not shadowed. The criminal code prohibits written blasphemous, vulgar language

The government funds public schools administered by long-established Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventists and Mennonite communities. In accordance with the constitution’s protections for freedom of conscience and religion, students at such schools are not obliged to attend religion classes.

In order for religious groups to qualify for customs and tax exemptions, they must be recognized as nonprofit organizations, register with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office and Inland Revenue, and provide a request letter to the Ministry of Finance. Applications are routinely granted.

Foreign missionaries require a worker’s permit or a waiver from the minister of labor. Foreign missionaries must demonstrate prior experience and be sponsored by a registered religious group.

Government Practices

There were no reports of significant government actions affecting religious freedom.

Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious FreedomShare    

There were no reports of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom.

Section IV. U.S. Government PolicyShare    

Embassy officials engaged government officials and members of the country’s religious communities to discuss religious freedom in law and in practice.