Roman Catholicism in Bhutan
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in Bhutan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
and curia in Rome.
. They eventually came to the city of Paro
in modern-day Bhutan. 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
who served Catholics there from 1963 until his death in 1995, but performed no conversions.
There are thought to be about 1000 Catholics in the country http://www.aed-france.org/observatoire/pays/bhoutan/ and Christians of all denominations are subject to persecution. The official religion is Buddhism
and Catholic missions have been denied entry. On Palm Sunday, April 8, 2001, Bhutanese police went to churches and registered the names of believers and threatened the pastor with imprisonment after an interrogation. It is illegal for Christians to hold public services and priests are often denied visas to enter the country. The first Bhutanese Catholic priest, Jesuit Kinley Tshering, was ordained in 1986. He was initially dissuaded by missionaries, but after a meeting with Mother Teresa
, he decided to become a Catholic priest. He is allowed to travel freely in Bhutan, and celebrates Christmas mass under the pretext of his birthday, also on December 24. He is also thought to be the first convert from Buddhism
to Catholicism in Bhutan. Bhutan has never had a native Catholic hierarchical jurisdiction, but is covered by the Diocese of Darjeeling. Catholic relief groups have worked to help displaced Bhutanese who were expelled from Bhutan in 1990.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and curia in Rome.
Origins
In 1626, several Jesuits were traveling from Cochin and attempting to make a new route to the Jesuit mission in TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. They eventually came to the city of Paro
Paro District
Paro District is the name of a district , valley, river and town in Bhutan. It is one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. Both trade goods and invading Tibetans came over the pass at the head of the valley, giving Paro the closest cultural connection with Tibet of any Bhutanese district...
in modern-day Bhutan. 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
Proselytism
Proselytizing is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. The word proselytize is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix προσ- and the verb ἔρχομαι in the form of προσήλυτος...
. The only Catholic missionary allowed to stay in the country was Canadian Jesuit Father William Mackey
William Mackey (priest)
Father William Joseph Mackey S.J. was a Canadian Jesuit priest who was responsible for establishing the modern education system in Bhutan, including its first high school .-Early life:Mackey joined the Jesuits in 1932, and was ordained in 1945...
who served Catholics there from 1963 until his death in 1995, but performed no conversions.
21st century
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Catholic missions have been denied entry. On Palm Sunday, April 8, 2001, Bhutanese police went to churches and registered the names of believers and threatened the pastor with imprisonment after an interrogation. It is illegal for Christians to hold public services and priests are often denied visas to enter the country. The first Bhutanese Catholic priest, Jesuit Kinley Tshering, was ordained in 1986. He was initially dissuaded by missionaries, but after a meeting with Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
, he decided to become a Catholic priest. He is allowed to travel freely in Bhutan, and celebrates Christmas mass under the pretext of his birthday, also on December 24. He is also thought to be the first convert from Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
to Catholicism in Bhutan. Bhutan has never had a native Catholic hierarchical jurisdiction, but is covered by the Diocese of Darjeeling. Catholic relief groups have worked to help displaced Bhutanese who were expelled from Bhutan in 1990.