Toward the effective protection of religious freedom in Mexico

Abstract

Although religious freedom is protected under Mexican law, its enforcement is challenging. I review the current state of religious freedom research and the legal and policy framework governing religious freedom. I identify where problems exist in the legal system or the progress of religious freedom is complicated, and whether the problems are due to a legal loophole, deficient regulation, or the absence of a public policy. I argue that the Mexican legal framework understands religious freedom too narrowly as referring only to church-state relations, overlooking the rights of religious believers, and the mechanisms necessary to make these rights effective.