Chile: Concern over secularist ideology and increasing intolerance

As Bio Bio Chile reported on 21 February 2018, a Catholic church in Puente Alto was firebombed by unknown persons, who also painted the words "rapists and murderers" on the walls outside. In a separate development, Bio Bio Chile reported on 28 February 2018 that charges are being brought against an evangelical church located in San Pedro for the alleged high levels of noise generated by amplified music. According to the 2018 Latinobarometro report, of all Latin American countries Chile has the second lowest percentage of trust (36%) in the Church. Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), comments: "The two incidents mentioned above, together with the attacks reported by WWR on 15 February 2018, show that religious intolerance in the country is becoming increasingly violent. As secularist ideology takes root in society, there is serious concern that the levels of violence could worsen. Although no one was injured in the firebomb attack, churches are clearly being targeted and the government does not appear to be interested in offering any protection. Perhaps, as in Mexico (as reported by Proceso on 8 February 2018), church leaders in Chile should start thinking about setting up their own security protocols."