The constitution and laws of Barbados
Protection of freedom of conscience
19. 1. Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the
enjoyment of his freedom of conscience and for the purpose of this section the
said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion, freedom to change his
religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and
both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion or belief
in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
2. Every religious community shall be entitled, at its own expense, to
establish and maintain places of education and to manage any place of education
which it wholly maintains.
3. No religious community shall be prevented from providing religious
instruction for persons of that community in the course of any education
provided by that community whether or not that community is in receipt of any
government subsidy, grant or other form of financial assistance designed to
meet, in whole or in part, the cost of such course of education.
4. Except with his own consent (or, if he is a person who has not attained the
age of twenty-one years, the consent of his guardian), no person attending any
place of education shall be enquired to receive religious instruction or to
take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if that
instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion which is not his
own.
5. No person shall be compelled to take any oath which is contrary to his
religion or belief or to take any oath in a manner which is contrary to his
religion or belief.
6. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to
be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the
law in question makes provision -
a. which is reasonably required -
i. in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or
public health; or
ii. for he purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons,
including the right to observe and practice any religion without the
unsolicited of members of any other religion; or
b. with respect to standards or qualifications to be required in relation to
places of education including any instruction (not being religious instruction)
given at such places.
7. References in this section to a religion shall be construed as including
references to a religious denomination, and cognate expressions shall be
construed accordingly.
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