Country Demographics:

• Population:  3.9 million                                      
• Religions:   Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, Other Protestant 0.7%, Other 4.8%, None 3.2%
• Income Per Capita:  $4,100 year/ $11.38 day
• Government Type: Democratic republic
  Chief of State: President Abel PACHECO (since May 2002)
   Note: The president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legal Profession:

• Accurate estimates for the number of lawyers in Costa Rica and number of believers involved in the legal profession were unavailable at the time of publication.
• The Costa Rican Christian Lawyers’ Network  (Red de Abogados Cristianos de Costa Rica - RACCR) is based in the Capital city of San José de Costa Rica and was formed in September 2003, immediately following the Third Latin Conference that took place in Cartagena, Colombia.

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

RACCR lawyers are involved with the following activities:

• Because of many churches have paid very little attention to legal matters in their relationship with the Costa Rican Government, most of them are facing difficulties regarding their taxes and legal status.  Costa Rican colleagues are actively involved in training pastors in key legal matters that are relevant for the churches in the areas of taxes and accounting.
• A project that will allow for great distribution of Bibles to people in prison.
• Development of a bill that would allow for a more egalitarian participation of other Christian denominations in teaching religion classes in public schools of the country.  Currently this is an exclusive privilege of the Catholic Church.

Prayer Items:

• Please pray for the advocates who are working to improve the human rights and religious freedom situation in Costa Rica.

Contact Information:

• Dorcas Enriquez dorca@costarricense.cr