ABSTRACTED from BTA

Washington

The Bulgarian Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the Government restricts this right in practice for some non-Orthodox religious groups, the US Department of State says in its annual report. Bulgaria is not among the countries systematically violating
religious liberties.

And yet the authorities restrict religious freedom through its registration process that is selective, slow, and nontransparent. The Government prohibits the public practice of religion by groups that are not registered, the report says. Most registered religious groups in Bulgaria are free to set up religious schools and cultural centres, often with the assistance of the Education and Science Ministry. A course on religion in the secondary school curriculum was initiated as an optional subject, beginning with the 1998/1999 school year.At the Department of Theology of Sofia University all students are required to present an Orthodox Church baptismal certificate in order to enroll in the Department's classes.

These requirements make it impossible for non-Orthodox students to enroll in the Department, the report says.The Government generally has encouraged greater religious tolerance since early 1998 by generally seeking to promote greater understanding among different faiths.

However, while the observance of religious freedom has improved for some nontraditional groups, other groups have faced official disfavor and been disadvantaged by the Government's persistent refusal to grant registration. Other church groups have obtained registration from the national Government, but continued to face some discrimination and antipathy from many local governments.

The previous, 38th National Assembly (1997-2001), failed to adopt a new bill on religious organizations as the parliamentary term ended while pending a review and comment from the Council of Europe, which criticized some aspects of the draft law, the
report says.

Relations between the major traditional religious communities generally are amicable. However, discrimination, harassment, and general public intolerance of nontraditional religious minorities remain an intermittent problem. Strongly held suspicion of evangelical denominations among the Orthodox populace is widespread and pervasive across the political spectrum and has resulted in discrimination. Often cloaked in a veneer of "patriotism," intolerance of the religious beliefs of others is common.