Religious Iconography and State Secularism in Public Institutions in Saltos del Guairá

Abstract

The constitutional framework establishes the secular nature of the state with respect to all religions; however, its application currently faces tensions with deeply rooted cultural practices. This study analyzes the interaction between religious iconography and the principle of state secularism in four public institutions in Saltos del Guairá, Canindeyú, Paraguay. The research is socio-legal, with a qualitative approach that includes a normative analysis of Article 24 of the 1992 National Constitution, direct observations, and interviews with authorities. Religious symbols were identified in police and military facilities. The LINCE Unit displays Psalm 23:4 on official vehicles. The Educational Supervision Office does not display any iconography. Institutional justifications appeal to tradition, cultural identity, and operational motivation. The findings are interpreted through Foucault's theories of illegality and Weber's theory of traditional domination. It is concluded that constitutional secularism coexists with religious expressions in public institutions through justifications that legitimize it, revealing a discrepancy between state secularism and institutional reality.