For example, civil unrest and riots normally target persons of Asian descent but generally not for religious motives. During the August to September 1998 civil unrest, opposing political parties, which are divided along religious lines as well, clashed, and there were accusations of involvement by religious groups in the crisis. There are serious theological and doctrinal differences among the Christians. The main feud is between the Catholics and the Protestants, especially evangelical, charismatic, and Mormon groups. However, there have been no specific incidents or confrontations during the period of this report.
Catholics form the largest group in the major political party and tend to be more affluent.
Their influence is strong because of their easy access to resources. On the other hand, Protestants are in the minority and generally poor despite the fact that they were the pioneers of Christianity in Lesotho. The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights.