Under the communist regime, the party killed about 1.7 million people, and with the exception of Marxist-Leninist theories, no other belief set was tolerated. 

The Catholic community makes up only a small proportion of the population. It has however, become integrated into society. 

Aid to the Church in Need, a Christian charity reviewed the last half-century of the Church in Cambodia, which has experienced a rebirth since religious coexistence increased.

In 1979, the war between Cambodia (which was called Democratic Kampuchea at the time) and Vietnam was followed by a civil war, which lasted until the late 1990s. Cambodia was ruled by Vietnamese communists from 1979 to 1989.

All forms of religious practice remained prohibited during this period.

For 30 years, the Catholic Church, which today numbers some 20,000 members, has been working to promote the Faith, remaining faithful to the doctrine of the Church, while at the same time presenting the parables of Christ in an intelligible manner for the local population. 

After Christianity was officially recognised in Cambodia in 1990, the right to freedom of religion was adopted in the new constitution that was ratified in 1993.

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