Roman Catholicism in Bhutan
4250923
201607786
2008-03-28T16:43:34Z
Judgesurreal777
952218
/* Origins */
The '''Catholic Church in Bhutan''' is part of the worldwide [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] and curia in Rome.
==Origins==
In 1626, several [[Jesuit]]s were traveling from [[Kochi, India|Cochin]] and attempting to make a new route to the Jesuit mission in [[Tibet]]. They eventually came to the city of [[Paro District|Paro]] in modern-day Bhutan.<ref>{{cite web | author=David M. Malone| year=March 2008 | title=Our Man in Bhutan| format= | work=Literary Review of Canada | url=http://lrc.reviewcanada.ca/index.php?page=Our-Man-in-Bhutan| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref> Two religious orders – [[Jesuits]] (in 1963) and [[Salesians]] (in 1965) were invited to the country to direct schools. The Salesians were expelled in February 1982 on disputed charges of [[proselytism]]. The only Catholic missionary allowed to stay in the country was Canadian Jesuit Father [[William Mackey (priest)|William Mackey]] who served Catholics there from 1963 until his death in 1995, but performed no conversions.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=April 17th, 1998 | title=Asia at a Glance| format= | work=Fides | url=http://www.zenit.org/english/asia/stats2.html| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref>
==21st century==
[[Image:Mother Teresa.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Bhutans first catholic priest was convinced to join the clergy by Mother Theresa.]]
There are thought to be about 200 Catholics in the country and Christians of all denominations are subject to persecution.<ref>{{cite web | author= Dubey, Prakash| year=February 23rd, 2006| title=Almost no place for minority religions on Bhutan’s national TV| format= | work= Asianews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5475| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref> The official religion is [[Buddhism]] and Catholic missions have been denied entry.<ref name="forbidden">{{cite web | author= | year=January 20th, 2004| title=No masses and entry visas for Catholic priests| format= | work= AsiaNews.it| url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=278| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref> On Palm Sunday, April 8th, 2001, Bhutanese police went to churches and registered the names of believers and threatened the pastor with imprisonment after an interrogation.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=April 20th, 2001| title= Christians Told To Leave Faith Or Leave Bhutan| format= | work= Catholic World News | url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=15333| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref> It is illegal for Christians to hold public services and priests are often denied visas to enter the country.<ref>{{cite web | author= Coday, Dennis| year=January 16th, 2004| title= Bhutan bans public masses| format= | work= Catholic National Reporter| url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=15333| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref> The first Bhutanese catholic priest, Jesuit Kinley Tshering, was ordained in 1986. He was initial dissuaded by missionaries, but after a meeting with [[Mother Theresa]], he decided to become a catholic priest.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=June 5th, 2007| title= Jesuit priest yearns to return to Buddhist homeland| format= | work= Catholic News Agency| url=http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=9549| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref> He is allowed to travel freely in Bhutan, and celebrates Christmas mass under the pretext of his birthday, also on December 24th.<ref name="forbidden">{{cite web | author= | year=January 20th, 2004| title=No masses and entry visas for Catholic priests| format= | work= AsiaNews.it| url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=278| accessdate=2006-06-18}}</ref> He is also thought to be the first convert from [[Buddhism]] to Catholicism in Bhutan.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=May 29th, 2007| title=Bhutan’s only Buddhist convert yearns to bring Catholicism to homeland| format= | work= Union of Catholic Asian News| url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=24221| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref> Bhutan has never had a native catholic hierarchical jurisdiction, but is covered by the Diocese of [[Darjeeling]].<ref>{{cite web | author= | year=September 8th, 2004| title=Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Bhutan| format= | work= katolsk.no| url=http://www.katolsk.no/utenriks/kronologi/bhutan.htm| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author= Prakash Dubey| year=October 27th, 2006| title=Only university graduates to run for office in Bhutan's first 'democratic' elections| format= | work= asianews.it| url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7604| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref> Catholic relief groups have worked to help displaced Bhutanese who were expelled from Bhutan in 1990.<ref>{{cite web | author= Danielle Vella| year=November 14th, 2005| title=The Jesuit Refugee Service celebrates its 25th anniversary| format= | work= asianews.it| url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=4619&size=A| accessdate=2008-03-11}}</ref>
==References==
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{{Asia in topic|Roman Catholicism in}}
{{Bhutan-stub}}
{{RC-country-stub}}
[[Category:Christianity in Bhutan]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church by country|Bhutan]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in Asia|Bhutan]]
[[de:Römisch-katholische Kirche in Bhutan]]
[[fr:Église catholique romaine au Bhoutan]]