The constitution provides for freedom of religion and conscience and the government generally respects these rights in practice. There is no official state church. However, since the majority of Croats are Roman Catholic, public schools provide optional Catholic training. All religious groups are free to conduct services and to operate social and charitable organizations. Protestant churches and eastern-based religions are actively evangelizing.
Ethnic animosities continue to run high and religion and ethnicity are intertwined. Majority Croats sometimes use religion to identify ethnic Serbs (Orthodox) and Bosnians (Muslim) and to discriminate against them in citizenship, employment, administration of justice and housing. Ethnic violence has resulted in the bombing of two Orthodox churches in 1996. A Catholic church attended by ethnic Croats was attacked by a mob of Serbs during its Christmas services.
2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Croatia
Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief Report on Croatia
International Christian Concern Report on Croatia
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