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There are many active religions in Luxembourg. The most important, in terms of size of congregation and historical importance, is Roman Catholicism, but the state does not support, or discriminate against, any one single religion.

Contents 1 Demographics 2 State intervention 3 Roman Catholicism 4 Protestantism 5 Judaism 6 Islam 7 References

Since 1979, it has been illegal to collect statistics on personal religious beliefs in Luxembourg. Consequently, there is no reliable data. Nonetheless, the country is certainly overwhelmingly Roman Catholic in religious affiliation; over 90% of Luxembourgers are thought to have been baptised Catholic.^[1] The CIA estimates the percentage of Roman Catholics in the general population at 87%.^[2] The largest religious minorities are (in order of decreasing size) Protestants, Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Jews.

Luxembourg is a secular state, but the Grand Duchy recognises and supports several denominations, in exchange for which, the state is allowed a hand in their affairs. This status, first afforded to the Roman Catholic Church, stems from Napoleon's Concordat of 1801, the principles of which have continued to apply to Luxembourg, despite its separation from France in 1815 and its subsequent Dutch ownership.

Despite having the same roots as France's official position of laïcité, Luxembourg's approach to religion has taken a different direction in the past 200 years, reducing the separation of church and state, not increasing it. The state currently recognises Judaism, Greek and Russian Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism, and Roman Catholicism as officially-mandated religions. In 2003, representatives of Islam, Anglicanism, and Romanian and Serbian Orthodox Christianity engaged in discussions to be conferred similar status, but without success. ^[3]

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Luxembourg

Roman Catholicism is the most practised religion in Luxembourg, and it dominates the nation's perception of Christianity. Luxembourg was a major centre for Christianity during the Middle Ages, Roman Catholicism was sustained through the Reformation by the hierarchy, buildings, and traditions established in the preceding centuries. The Roman Catholic Church has received state support since 1801.

Main article: Protestantism in Luxembourg

Protestantism is the largest minority religion in Luxembourg, with estimates of adherents ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 (1% to 3.2% of the population). They are divided across several Protestant churches and creeds, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, and Evangelicalism. The largest Protestant churches in the Grand Duchy are the Protestant Church of Luxembourg (PKL), Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg (PRKL), Evangelical Church in Germany, Church of England, and Protestant Church in the Netherlands. The state has supported the PKL since 1894 and the PRKL since 1982.

Main article: Jews and Judaism in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's Jewish community dates back at least as far as the 13th century, making Judaism the minority religion that has been practised the longest in Luxembourg. Today, Luxembourg's Jews number approximately 1,200, of whom, 650 practise actively. There are very few Orthodox Jews in Luxembourg.^[4] During the Holocaust, 1,945 Jewish Luxembourgers were killed, out of a pre-war population of 3,500. Judaism is supported by the state.

Main article: Islam in Luxembourg