I. Historical Background
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Russian priests started to preach the Orthodox religion. Soon after, in 1180, the German Monk Meinhardt started to preach in Latvia. But the pagan tribes kept resistant, so Meinhardt approached the Pope with a request to open a crusade in the Baltic. As a result, the German invasion began. Up until the 18th century, Latvia was under German control. The year 1524 is deemed as the year of the foundation of the Latvian Evangelic Lutheran Church.
In the 18th century, Latvia was incorporated into the Russian Empire, but the Orthodox belief did not become popular among Latvians. Due to the comparatively liberal religious policy, Old Orthodox believers found recourse in Latvia.
The Jews suffered a grave fate during the National Socialism in Germany: 100,000 Jews lived in Latvia before the Second World War; nowadays there are only 5,000.
II. Religious affiliation today
Latvia with its 2.3 million inhabitants is a multi-confessional country, where the three largest denominations are the Orthodox (approx. 25%), the Lutherans (approx. 25%) and the Catholics (approx. 21%). There are about 170 different religious communities, but the number of their members is marginal. Nevertheless, 12% of the population consider themselves as non-believers. The religious allocation is reflected in the settlement: Whereas Orthodox Christians, many of them Russian-speaking, non-citizen, permanent residents, are concentrated in the major cities, many Catholics live in the east.
III. Basic Categories of the System
Latvia knows the separation of State and Church, which implies that state institutions have a secular nature and religious organisations can fulfil the functions of the state only in special cases provided by the law. Religion or the Church is not completely segregated from society or social life. This is not possible in a democratic country, as religion and religious associations form one of the cornerstones of society. It has to be taken into account that Latvia is still a young Republic and the balance between Church and State needs some practice.
Moreover, the freedom of religion is respected by the Latvian Constitution. That also contains the freedom to be absent of any religious community. As a result of those two basic principles, the Latvian Constitution does not know any state religion.
IV. Cultural and societal exercise of functions
According to Article 6 of the Law on Religious Organisations, the Christian religion may be taught in state and municipal schools to pupils who (or their parents) have requested it by written application. Teachers are selected by the denomination leaders with approbation of the competent Ministry. Ethic classes are offered as an alternative to the religious lessons.
The University of Latvia’s Theological faculty is nondenominational, so the faculty is independent of any church. Therefore it is typical that students and academics are members of different religions. As a result, the separation of Church and State manifests itself as separation of Theology and Church. So priority is given to social questions.
Religious communities have the right to found magazines, newspapers and periodicals, according to the general procedure.
The work of religious organisations at public institutions is mainly carried out through the chaplaincy service. Chaplains are the spiritual personnel who perform their duties at penal institutions, units of the National Armed Forces and elsewhere, where ordinary pastoral care is not available. It is the only approved profession in Latvia where ministerial status and recognition from the church is required.
V. Legal foundations
In the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, religion is mentioned only in the Art.99: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
The foundation of religious freedom is shaped in the Law on Religious Organisations.
Art. 4 guarantees, that explicit or implicit restriction of the rights of inhabitants or the grants of privileges to inhabitants, as well as offence to their feelings or incitement of hatred due to their attitude towards religion are prohibited. No reference may be made to a persons´ attitude to religion or his or her religious affiliation in identification documents.
Moreover, it is provided in this Article, that state and municipal institutions, public organisations, enterprises and commercial companies may not request information concerning their attitude to religion or their religious affiliation from their personnel and other persons.
According to Art.5 of the Law on Religious Organisations, the State recognises the right of parents and guardians to bring up their children in accordance with their religious creed.
Art.14 determines that religious organisations may only engage in religious activities in public places, if they have received permission from the relevant municipality. Rules of public order must not be violated when engaging in religious activities.