According to article 24 of the Paraguayan Constitution of 1992, freedom of religion is recognised and there is no official religion. Relations between the State and the Catholic church are to be based on independence, co-operation and autonomy. The independence of religious organisations is guaranteed.[1]
As can be seen below, the majority of Paraguayans are Roman Catholic, although the percentage of Paraguayans who identify themselves as Catholic has dropped slightly. There has been a corresponding growth in the influence of Evangelical churches in recent years. There are a number of Indigenous religions and there are also Buddhist (probably due to immigration from Korea), Jewish and Muslim communities in the country.
Religions in Paraguay according to 2002 and 1992 censuses [1]
| Religion | Number of followers 2002 | Percentage 2002 | Number of followers 1992 | Percentage 1992 | Change 1992-2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholicism | 3,488,086 | 89.61% | 2,749,888 | 93.25% | -3.64% |
| Indigenous & Catholic | 223 | 0.01 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Orthodox | 25 | <0.00% | N/A | N\A | N/A |
| Russian (Orthodox) | 470 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other Orthodox | 950 | 0.02% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Anglicanism | 1,858 | 0.05% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Indigenous & Anglican | 29 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Lutheran | 8,849 | 0.23% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Presbyterian | 276 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mennonites | 8,445 | 0.22% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Indigenous & Mennonite | 8 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Traditional Christianity* (excl. Catholicism) | 21,133 | 0.54% | 14,497 | 0.49% | +0.05% |
| Christian and Missionary Alliance | 87 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Assemblies of God | 9,879 | 0.25% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maranatha Baptist Church | 10,355 | 0.27% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centro familiar de adoración aposent. | 513 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Comunidad Cristiana | 1,046 | 0.03% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Plymouth Brethren - Open Brothers | 665 | 0.02% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Independent | 7 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Church of God (Pentecostal) | 1,550 | 0.04% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Church of God of Prophecy (Pentecostal) | 149 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Methodists | 451 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Free Methodists | 156 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Church of the Nazarene | 86 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Neotestamentaria (Baptist) | 276 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Pentecostal | 8,631 | 0.22% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other Evangelical | 186,107 | 4.78% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 7,804 | 0.20% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Dios es Amor (Pentecostal) | 1,290 | 0.03% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Universal Church of the Kingdom of God | 714 | 0.02% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Unification Church | 116 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) | 9,374 | 0.24% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Pueblo de Dios | 12,114 | 0.31% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 11,805 | 0.30% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mount Zion Church | 233 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other pseudo-Christian groups | 825 | 0.02% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Post-16th-Century Christian demoninations** | 264,233 | 6.78% | 138,573 | 4.70% | +2.08% |
| Judaism | 1,100 | 0.03% | 952 | 0.03% | - |
| Islam | 872 | 0.02% | 1,200 | 0.04% | -0.02% |
| Hinduism (Tao) | 151 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Buddhism | 2,088 | 0.05% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Reyukai | 72 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Shintoism | 30 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bahá'í Faith | 225[3] | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| "Eastern and Cultural Religions" (excl Islam)*** | 2566 | 0.07% | 2,811 | 0.10% | -0.03% |
| Rosacrucis | 7 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Spiritualists - E.C.Basilio | 289 | 0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Umbanda | 54 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other, Spiritualist | 66 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mentalism | 164 | <0.01% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Indigenous Religions | 23,741 | 0.61 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Religions not included above | 1,208 | 0.03% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Unspecified other religion | 6,139 | 0.16% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Religion not previously mentioned in 1992 Census**** | 31,668 | 0.81% | 8,152 | 0.28% | +0.53% |
| No religion | 44,334 | 1.14% | 23,236 | 0.78% | +0.36% |
| No response | 37,206 | 0.96% | 9,790 | 0.33% | +0.63% |
| Total no. of participants | 3,892,603 | 100% | 2,949,099 | 100% | - |
NB:
- Traditional Christianity taken to include Anglicanism, all branches of Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism and the Mennonites - all branches that had emerged by the end of the 16th Century (except Catholicism)
- Post 16th Century Christian dominations includes: Christian and Missionary Alliance, Assemblies of God, Maranatha Baptist Church, Centro familiar de adoración aposent., Comunidad Cristiana, Plymouth Brethren - Open Brothers, Independent, Church of God (Pentecostal), Church of God of Prophecy (Pentecostal), Methodism, Free Methodism, Church of the Nazarene, Neotestimentaria (Baptist), Pentecostal, Other Evangelical, Seventh Day Adventist , Dios es Amor (Pentecostal), Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Unification Church, Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Pueblo de Dios, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mount Zion Church & Other pseudo-Christian groups
- Eastern and Cultural Relgions includes: Hinduism (Tao), Buddhism, Reyukai, Shintoism & Bahá'í ****Religions not previously mentioned in the 1992 census include: Rosacrucis, Spiritualists - E.C.Basilio, Umbanda, Other, Spiritualist, Mentalism, Indigenous Religions, Religions not included above & Unspecified other religion
- Post 16th Century Christian dominations includes: Christian and Missionary Alliance, Assemblies of God, Maranatha Baptist Church, Centro familiar de adoración aposent., Comunidad Cristiana, Plymouth Brethren - Open Brothers, Independent, Church of God (Pentecostal), Church of God of Prophecy (Pentecostal), Methodism, Free Methodism, Church of the Nazarene, Neotestimentaria (Baptist), Pentecostal, Other Evangelical, Seventh Day Adventist , Dios es Amor (Pentecostal), Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Unification Church, Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Pueblo de Dios, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mount Zion Church & Other pseudo-Christian groups
Roman Catholicism in Paraguay
Catholicism has long been the most important religion in Paraguay, the Bishopric of Asunción was created in 1547[4]. The majority of government officials are catholics and a number of Catholic festivals are public holidays (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Feast of The Assumption of the Virgen Mary [15 August], Feast of The Immaculate Conception [8 December] and Christmas[5].
Many people mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with a pilgrimage to Caacupé Caacupé is a city in Paraguay, founded in 1770. It is the capital of the department of Cordillera . The Basilica of Caccupe contains a statuette of Our Lady of the Miracles. Pope John Paul II visited Caacupe in 1987.
The Church maintains the Universidad Católica "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción".
Bahá'í Faith in Paraguay
Main article: Bahá'í Faith in ParaguayThe Bahá'í Faith in Paraguay begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (23 May 1844 - 28 November 1921), born `Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith, then head of the religion, mentioned the country in 1916.[6] Paraguayan Maria Casati was the first to join the religion in 1939 when living in Buenos Aires.[7] The first pioneer to settle in Paraguay was Elizabeth Cheney late in 1940[8] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdu'l-Bahá to refer to elected councils that govern the Bahá'í Faith. Because the Bahá'í Faith has no clergy, they carried out some of the responsibilities of clergy, as well as some responsibilities that an elected Board of Deacons or Parish Council of a Christian church might perform. In addition to of Asunción Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay. The Spanish word asunción means assumption in English. It refers to the Assumption of Mary; the full name means The Very Noble and Loyal City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption was elected in 1944.[8][9] By 1961 Paraguayan Bahá'ís had elected the first National Spiritual Assembly Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdu'l-Bahá to refer to elected councils that govern the Bahá'í Faith. Because the Bahá'í Faith has no clergy, they carried out some of the responsibilities of clergy, as well as some responsibilities that an elected Board of Deacons or Parish Council of a Christian church might perform. In addition to and by 1963 there were 3 local assemblies plus other communities.[10] Recent estimates of Bahá'ís mention 5500[11] or 13000[12] though the state Census doesn't mention the Bahá'ís.[13]
Judaism in Paraguay
The first synagogue in Paraguay was established in 1917 by Sephardic Jews who had emigrated from Palestine, Turkey and Greece; though there had previously been some isolated Jewish settlers from Europe.[14]
Ashkenazi Jews from the Ukraine and Poland founded the Unión Hebraica in the 1920s, while in the 1930s between 15,000 and 20,000 refugees from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia fled to Paraguay to escape the holocaust. Many of these later moved on to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Those who remained were later joined by immigrants who were mostly survivors of the concentration camps.[14]
Today, the Jewish community has around a 1000 members who live mainly in Asunción. There is a Jewish school Escuela Integral Estado de Israel. Asunción has three synagogues: Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Chabad and a Jewish museum.[14]
Islam in Paraguay
The 1992 census recorded 872 Muslims in Paraguay 486 of which were in the Alto Parana department, the capital of which is Ciudad del Este. There are also communities in Asunción and Itapua (the capital fo which is Encarnación)[15]. As in other parts of Latin America, many of these are descended from immigrants from Syria and Lebanon, though some may also be from Bangladesh and Pakistan[16]
Latter Day Saints in Paraguay
The Asunción Paraguay Temple (Mormon)The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restorationist Christian church, and the largest denomination originating from the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. Founded in Upstate New York in 1830, the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations (called wards or branches) claims more than 70,000 members in Paraguay and that its membership has doubled in the past five years.[17]
External links
- Paraguayan Constitution[2]
- Dirección General de Estádisticas y Censos [3]
- Virgin of Caacupé [4]
- Jews of Paraguay [5]
Notes
- ^ Paraguay: Constitución de 1992
- ^ www.dgeec.gov.py
- ^ This number is reported by email, but there is no online reference to this number. See article Bahá'í Faith in Paraguay.
- ^ Paraguay - RELIGION
- ^ http://www.libertadeslaicas.org.mx/paginas/infoEspecial/historia/02Historiografia/10040212.pdf
- ^ `Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (23 May 1844 - 28 November 1921), born `Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith (1991). Tablets of the Divine Plan (Paperback ed.). Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. pp. 31–32. ISBN The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code created by Gordon Foster, now Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966 0877432333. http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/TDP/tdp-6.html.
- ^ Cameron, G.; & Momen, W. (1996). A Basic Bahá'í Chronology. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 254, 263, 458. ISBN The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code created by Gordon Foster, now Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966 0853984022.
- ^ a b Lamb, Artemus (November 1995). The Beginnings of the Bahá'í Faith in Latin America:Some Remembrances, English Revised and Amplified Edition. 1405 Killarney Drive, West Linn OR, 97068, United States of America: M L VanOrman Enterprises. http://bahai-library.com/books/latinamerica.lamb.html.
- ^ Effendi, Shoghi Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957. After the death of `Abdu'l-Bahá in 1921, the leadership of the Bahá'í community entered a new phase, evolving from that of a single individual to an administrative order with executive and (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. p. 399. ISBN The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) code created by Gordon Foster, now Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966 0-87743-020-9. http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/GPB/gpb-26.html.iso8859-1#gr55.
- ^ The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963, Compiled by Hands of the Cause The Hands of the Cause of God, Hands of the Cause, or Hands were a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed for life, whose main function was to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith. Unlike the members of the elected institutions and other appointed institutions in the Bahá'í Faith, who serve in those offices, Hands are considered to have Residing in the Holy Land, pages 15, 108
- ^ "Republic of Paraguay". Operation World. Paternoster Lifestyle. 2001. http://www.operationworld.org/country/para/owtext.html. Retrieved 2098-07-25.
- ^ "Compare Countries International > Compare Countries > Brazil Paraguay". The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/MultiCompare2.asp?c=176,%203. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "CUADRO P11: PARAGUAY: Población de 10 años y más por grupos de edad, según área urbana-rural, sexo y religión, 2002." (pdf). Paraguay. Resultados Finales Censo Nacional de Población y Viviendas. Año 2002 - Total País.. DGEEC, Gov of Paraguay. 2002. http://www.dgeec.gov.py/Publicaciones/Biblioteca/Web%20Paraguay%20Total%20Pais/P11%20total.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ a b c Jews of Paraguay
- ^ Dirección General de Estadísticas, Encuestas y Censos
- ^ Los Musulmanes - The Spanish Ummah of the Muslim world
- ^ LDS Newsroom - Paraguay
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Q. could some help me check these answers. The first answer is in spanish and below it is the english version. If u could look for - spelling mistakes - if the english info was wrong - conjugated stuff wrong welll u get the idea help much appreciated 1.) El capitolio de Paraguay es Asuncion. The capitol of Paraguay is Asuncion 2.) Paraguay es Suramerica central localizada, noreste de la Argentina Paraguay is located Central South America, northeast of Argentina 3.) La poblacion de Paraguay es 6,831,306. Los Paraguayans son mestizo, de origenes indios espanoles y nativos. Los indigenas verdaderos son una minoria, y hay algunos inmigrantes europeos, asiaticos, medio-orientales, y de Argentina . Paraguay fue descubierto por Juan Diaz de… [cont.]
Asked by games4life - Mon Dec 29 23:38:33 2008 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments
A. Many errors in your texts: 1.) la capital de Paraguay es Asuncion. 2.) Paraguay esta localizado en America del Sur, al noreste de la Argentina. 3.) La poblacion de Paraguay es DE 6,831,306. Los paraguayos son mestizo, de origen indio y espanol. Los indigenas verdaderos son una minoria, y hay algunos inmigrantes europeos, asiaticos, del Medio Oriente y de Argentina. Paraguay fue descubierto por Juan Diaz de Solis. Paraguay significa el agua que va a regar. tiene ese nombre por un rio que CORRE casi RECTO a traves del centro deL PAIS, de norte a sur. POR SU tipo del gobierno, Paraguay es UNA republica constitucional. 4.) Juan de Ayolas es famoso en Paraguay porque el con la ayuda de sus hombres construyo Asuncion. VICTOR Pecci FUE UN… [cont.]
Answered by Americo G - Mon Dec 29 23:56:36 2008

