Religion in Puerto Rico
Religious freedom for all faiths is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Churches of many denominations can be found throughout the island, with Christianity being the majority religion.
Religion plays a very important role in the lives of Puerto Ricans.
According to one of the most recent surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center (2010), the majority of Puerto Ricans identified as Christians (96.7%), with a religious breakdown of: Catholics (69.7%), Protestants (25.1%), non-religious (1.9%), and others (3.3%).
Catholicism
Historically, Puerto Ricans have been mostly Roman Catholic (69.7%) since the colonial era. Catholicism was brought to the island by the Spanish during their settlement that began in the early 1500s. Christian colonizers believed they had the right to conquer and colonize the New World to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. In 1511, Pope Julius II created a diocese in Caparra, the island's first settlement.
Gradually Catholicism became the dominant religion in Puerto Rico. Although Catholicism in Puerto Rico stray away from some traditional dogma, rituals, and practices of Spain and Italy churches to combine elements Indian and African beliefs. Some islanders ascribe to Espiritismo, which combines elements of the Catholic religion and Indian beliefs in nature-dwelling spirits that can be called on to effect change in one's life. Others practice the Yoruba beliefs of Santería, introduced to the island by Yoruba slaves from West Africa.
Today, each town has at least one Catholic Church and generally located at the plaza or town center.
Protestantism
Following the United States acquisition of the island in 1898, Protestantism began to grow on the island. It is now the second largest religious group in the island (25.1%).
The first Protestant church in Puerto Rico was Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad, established in Ponce by the Anglican Diocese of Antigua in 1872. It was also the first non-Roman Catholic Church in the entire Spanish Empire in the Americas.
In recent decades, Pentecostal fundamentalism has developed in the island. Today, there are about 1,500 Evangelical churches in the island. There are Protestant services for Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, and there are other interdenominational services.
Puerto Rico is also home to the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean. There is a Jewish Community Center in Miramar, and there's a Jewish Reformed Congregation in Santurce.
Other Christian Denominations
Other Christian denominations can include other churches and sects, like Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Defenders of the Faith, and Assemblies of God (1.9%).
Other Religions
Other religions practiced in the island include Islam, Judaism, indigenous religions, and African-based religions (1.4%).
Non-religious
The non-religious demographic includes individuals who identify as agnostic, atheist, not affiliated, and unsure (1.9%).
