U.S. Dep't of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Monaco

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The constitution provides for freedom of religion and its public expression and prohibits compelling participation in religious ceremonies. Roman Catholicism is the state religion, and state ceremonies often included Catholic rituals. Religious groups must apply to the government to build a public place of worship and to receive recognition, which provides certain legal rights and privileges. In December, representatives of the country’s Jehovah’s Witnesses association stated that authorities had intervened in and sometimes prohibited proselytizing activities.

The representatives said they subsequently met with police in October, who explained that door-to-door and public ministry in the street constituted a breach of peace under the country’s penal code, which requires prior authorization for all door-to-door calling and solicitation activities. The representatives stated that the “excessive regulations” in authorization procedures seriously challenged their ability to conduct their public ministry. In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) reached a decision in a 2019 case in which Jehovah’s Witnesses sought government recognition as a religious group. The ruling stated that the Minister of State and the Jehovah’s Witnesses had reached an agreement to settle the dispute, and that the government had agreed to register the Jehovah Witnesses Association.

The group confirmed that Jehovah’s Witnesses had been registered. There were no reports during the year of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom. Due to high real estate costs, multiple Christian faiths used each other’s places of worship for services. Jehovah’s Witnesses gathered on a regular basis in places of worship in neighboring France.

In April, the group rented a hall in Monaco to celebrate a memorial service that brought together members from the country and nearby areas in France. In the fall, consulate general staff spoke with representatives of multiple religious groups. They discussed the groups’ views regarding their ability to exercise religious freedom in the country. Section I. Religious Demography The U.S. government estimates the total population at 31,800 (midyear 2023), of whom 9,600 are citizens.

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, approximately 82 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Protestant officials said Protestants represent at least 2 percent of the population with 200-220 families, mainly of British and American descent. The Reformed Protestant Church of Monaco, associated with the United Protestant Church of France, has 25 registered members. There are also small numbers of evangelical Christians, Catholics, and members of the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches.

The Russian Orthodox Church has an estimated 300 members, according to observers and press reports. The European Jewish Congress and the local Jewish Cultural Association reported that within their community, most of the approximately 2,000 residents are noncitizens, primarily from France and the United Kingdom, with a smaller number from North Africa and Turkey. According to a long-time Muslim resident, there is a small Muslim community of approximately 200 persons, most of whom are noncitizens from North Africa. Jehovah’s Witnesses report 40 members living in the country, although there were also 150-200 members who work in the country.

A small number of residents adhere to other religious beliefs. There are also small Baha’i and Buddhist communities established in the principality. Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework The constitution provides individuals freedom of religion and public worship and protects the freedom to express opinions on all issues, provided no crimes are committed in the exercise of those freedoms.

No one may be compelled to participate in the rites or ceremonies of any religion or to observe its days of rest. The constitution states that Roman Catholicism is the state religion. The Catholic Archbishop of Monaco occupies the highest government office below the sovereign and the Minister of State. Religious associations seeking to establish an office or place of worship, own or lease property, or hire employees must first obtain official recognition from the Ministry of the Interior.

The ministry must respond to such requests within one month or approval is automatic. The government has granted recognition to the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Baha’i, Buddhist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Jewish communities as well as to various Protestant groups. In addition to obtaining official government recognition, any religious group wishing to construct a place of worship in a public space must receive prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior. The government does not tax religious institutions.

Catholic religious instruction is available in public schools as an option and requires parental authorization. Private schools, including those operated by religious groups, must apply for government authorization. If approved, the schools may provide instruction in religions other than Catholicism. The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Government Practices In December, representatives of the Jehovah’s Witnesses association stated that authorities intervened in and sometimes prohibited their proselytizing activities. The representatives reported that during the year, police subjected four Jehovah’s Witnesses conducting door-to-door and street proselytizing to identity checks. The representatives said they subsequently met with police in October, who explained that door-to-door and public ministry in the street constituted a breach of peace under the penal code, which requires prior authorization for all door-to-door calling and solicitation activities. Although authorities allowed people to contact the Jehovah’s Witnesses association through its official website to arrange at-home meetings, cold-calling activities and proselytizing in the street requires prior government authorization.

The representatives argued that “excessive regulations” in the authorization procedures challenged their ability to conduct their public ministry. As of year’s end, the representatives were awaiting further guidance from authorities after meeting again with government officials. In January 2022, the ECHR reached a decision in a case brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2019 to obtain recognition as a religious group. Prior to the case, the government had rejected three previous applications by the group, despite a Supreme Court ruling annulling the first two rejections.

In its ruling, the ECHR announced the country’s Minister of State and Jehovah’s Witnesses had reached an agreement to settle the dispute, and Jehovah’s Witnesses withdrew the claim. The government agreed to register the Jehovah Witnesses Association. In fall 2022, a representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses confirmed the association had completed the registration process and that the government had officially recognized it as a religious group. Prior to the settlement, the government and Jehovah’s Witnesses had both stated the group could not open a place of worship without recognition.

Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that government recognition would permit the organization to establish a headquarters in the country where it could worship and welcome new members. Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses also said that dozens of their members visited the country as tourists each year and often asked how to access religious services. Catholic rituals continued to be a part of many state ceremonies, including annual national day celebrations. Section III.

Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom There were no reports during the year of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom. Due to high real estate costs, multiple Christian faiths used each other’s places of worship for services. Members of Jehovah’s Witnesses gathered on a regular basis in places of worship in neighboring France. In April, the group rented a hall in Monaco to celebrate a memorial service that brought together 212 church members in the country and from nearby areas in France.

Places of worship included six Catholic churches, two Protestant churches, and one synagogue. To compensate for high real estate costs, the Greek Orthodox community held services inside a Catholic Church, while evangelical Christians, Filipino Catholics, and Russian Orthodox church members gathered in the premises of the Reformed Church of Monaco. The Russian Orthodox parish used the Reformed Protestant Church until it could identify a location to build its own church. Section IV.

U.S. Government Policy and Engagement In the fall, Marseille consulate general staff spoke with representatives of the Catholic Church, the Jewish community, the United Protestant Church – one of the country’s two Protestant churches – and Jehovah’s Witnesses. They discussed the groups’ views regarding their ability to exercise religious freedom in the country, including their ability to establish places of worship, and government attitudes towards religious schools. On This Page search > < EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section I. Religious Demography Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework Government Practices Section III.

Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement Tags Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Monaco Office of International Religious Freedom Religious Freedom Reports