The preamble to the Constitution of 1979 invokes the protection of God. Article 27 declares that education is the primary responsibility of the state and is secular and free. The constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, individually and collectively in private and in public. "Persons can freely practice the faith that they prefer except for the limitations prescribed by law to protect the security, public morality, and fundamental rights of others. Ministers of any religion and members of religious communities are prohibited from running for the national Congress or from being President of the Republic.
The rights of religious freedom, and that numerous foreign religious orders and missionary groups are active.
2003 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Ecuador
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