E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1 page 103 We interpret religious tolerance as meaning ’The attitude by which everyone is left free to practise the religion he professes’. In this context, religious tolerance should not be interpreted as being a discretionary act and an act of free will. In the legal sphere, according to constitutional and legal provisions, religious tolerance represents a duty (we are speaking of the respect and consideration that other religions are due). As regards the that: ’Everyone has personality, with no rights of others and legal order, article 43 of the Constitution provides the right to the free development of his other limitations than those deriving from the from the public and social order’. Together with article 65 mentioned above, article 79 of the Constitution follows this line of ideas; its text stipulates the right to devote oneself to science. Venezuelan society displays an ongoing and deep respect for personal convictions and the dissemination of ideas. There is a climate of harmonious coexistence as regards religious freedom and the various religions make every effort to occupy their own area of society while agreeing that others have the right to spread a different message. Because of this, the community activities conducted by these organizations are often done on a joint basis, and this makes them more effective in achieving common goals. This cultural basis, to which we have referred, is the most solid foundation for one of the pillars of the democratic system in force. For this reason, the State acts within the framework of the limits provided by the Constitution and refrains from intervening in the observance of the country’s various religions or encouraging people to join any religion in particular. Without any doubt, the Catholic religion is in first place from the numerical point of view, a situation that justifies its broader network of relations with the State, which are, however, kept to a bare minimum and do not represent special protection or preference that would introduce inequalities into the requirements for respecting and practising a religion. For that reason, the existence of an agreement between the Republic of Venezuela and the Holy See (Modus Vivendi) should not be interpreted as an act of discrimination, nor should the fact that the law relating to missions refers only to Catholic missions. These facts are simply the result of a preponderance that the State would not hesitate to recognize other religions as having if the current situation were to change. Furthermore, this preponderance does not lead to the State granting benefits or prerogatives to any religious organization. An illustration of the Venezuelan State’s neutral position towards religious beliefs is that of the educational establishments supported by the State. These establishments have no paid staff who are obliged to dispense religious education and, in establishments where the Church can