Some non-Catholics regard membership in the Christian Democratic party as contrary to their philosophical beliefs. Several prominent politicians are not Catholic, including government officials, opposition members, congressmen, and presidential candidates. However, there are no evangelical members of Congress. The country's Protestants assert that the Government discriminates against them, based upon differing legal status afforded to non-Catholics. Military recruits, whatever their religion, often have to attend Catholic events involving their unit, and being a Catholic is considered beneficial to one's military career.
Foreign missionaries operate freely, and many priests are of foreign origin.
Schools are required to offer religious education, on an optional basis, twice a week through middle school. It is mandatory to teach the creeds requested by parents, though enforcement is sometimes lax. Pickering's appointment concerned Jewish groups due to an anti-Semitic remark he allegedly made in 1996 while serving as Vice Minister of Public Works. Pickering denied the allegations and said that his commentary involving the officials had been purely political. Following a meeting, Jewish representatives accepted Pickering's assurances that he was not an anti-Semite.