OAR

The Religious Affairs Office (OAR) is a municipal service that serves as a reference point for religious and spiritual issues and everything to do with the city’s religious and faith-based organizations and communities. 

The office's goals, following the principles of interculturality, are as follows: 

  1. To guarantee the right to freedom of religion and conscience among Barcelona’s citizens, reversing situations of inequality and difficulties in access that may arise in this area.
  2. To facilitate knowledge and recognition of the religious plurality found in the city.
  3. To create spaces for participation, dialogue and positive interaction between people of various beliefs and convictions and with all other citizens. 

The OAR assists, informs and advises citizens on issues relating to plurality of beliefs and religious situations, as well as their application in daily life in Barcelona. It also organizes training initiatives and dissemination, debate and dialogue activities to make known and to raise awareness of this reality that is part of the city.

The office aims to serve a public ranging from the city’s religious and faith-based organizations and communities to municipal staff and services and Barcelona’s citizens.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change religion or belief, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 18)

The term "culture" covers those values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge and the arts, traditions, institutions and ways of life through which a person or a group expresses their humanity and the meaning they give to their existence and to their development.

Cultural Rights, Fribourg Declaration (Art. 2)

Everyone has the right to practice their religion, while respecting the law.
The City Council, non-denominational, will maintain a relationship of equality with the representatives of the different confessions of the city. It will promote respect between believers and non-believers and between different religions.

Charter of Citizenship: charter of rights and duties of Barcelona