Mozambique: Government begins consultations on new religion, worship law

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Mozambique: Government begins consultations on new religion, worship law

2:51 CAT | 03 Jul 2020

The Mozambican government on Friday announced the beginning of public consultations for the drafting of a bill on religion and worship, which provides, among other novelties, training in theology for religious leaders.

The national director of Religious Affairs, Arão Litsure, told the public broadcaster Radio Mozambique that the proposal that will be presented to Mozambican society also provides that the minimum number of faithful for the recognition of a church by the state will no longer be 500 people, and the new minimum has yet to be defined.

Arão Litsure said that the future law, which will have to be approved by parliament, reinforces the secular and independent character of the state before religion.

“It is a bill that introduces new definitions, principles and values in the relationship between religion and the state,” Litsure said.

He stressed that during the public consultation religious leaders and all the living forces of society interested in the matter will be heard.

With the new bill on religion and worship, the Mozambican government intends to replace a law that has been in force for 49 years, when the territory was still under the control of the Portuguese colonial regime.

Mozambique has experienced in recent years an exponential growth of religious sects.

Source: Lusa