Executive Summary
The constitution provides for freedom of religion and prohibits the government from taking any action to compel, prohibit, or hinder the exercise of religion. On January 18, the government celebrated the annual National Day of Prayer that “welcome[d] all expressions of religion…without reservation or reproach.”
Activities to promote religious freedom included a Christmas celebration in Koror featuring Christian songs and prayers offered by various denominations. Leaders from traditional religious groups continued to convene for cultural and government events across the country at times during the year.
On July 2, the U.S. Ambassador conducted a discussion with guests from church-affiliated high schools. Visiting U.S. forces in the country for exercises and other civil engagements regularly deployed with military chaplains, who engaged with religious communities. Between June and October, a visiting chaplain from the U.S. Army contacted the Evangelical Church and discussed the effect of drugs and alcohol abuse on families and the community. A U.S. Navy chaplain visited for several months as part of exercise “Koa Moana” and met with the Seventh-day Adventist congregation and other faith groups and participated in a number of public discussions on topics that included youth suicide in the country.