Freedom of Religion/History/Country sources/Venezuela
What is the oldest written source in this country that mentions this right?
Venezuela
Venezuela’s first constitution was officially written in 1811 which included the “Declaration of Rights, by the Supreme Congress of Venezuela” which affirmed the Catholic Apostolic Religion as the only religion allowed to be practiced in the country. In 1864, the Constitution of the United States of Venezuela allowed religious freedom under the condition that, “only those belonging to the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion can perform public worship outside of the churches.” The 1881 Constitution of the United States of Venezuela subsequently altered the assertion of the right with Chapter III, Article 13 stating, “Religious liberty.” This phrasing was used until the adoption of the 1904 constitution that guarantees, “Religious freedom according to the laws and under the Supreme inspection of the President of the Republic,” which connotes certain limits on religion. It was only until the adoption of the 1961 Constitution of the Republic of Venezuela that the freedom “to profess his religious faith and to practice his religion privately or publicly” was added to the preceding canon.
Sources:
“Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 23, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzve0005 &id=5&men_tab=srchresults.
“Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 23, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzve0007 &id=7&men_tab=srchresults.
“Northwestern SSO.” n.d. Prd-Nusso.it.northwestern.edu. Accessed June 23, 2024. https://heinonline-org.turing.library.northwestern.edu/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzve0135&id=11&men_tab=srchresults.
The Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was ratified on December 19, 1999. Articles 21.1, 59, and 89.5 grant religious freedom and prohibit religious discrimination. Article 119 protect the religious rights of indigenous people.
Constitution Project. “Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 1999 (Rev. 2009) Constitution.” Constitute. POGO, April 27, 2022. Last modified April 27, 2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Venezuela_2009?lang=en.