Roman Catholicism in Nepal

The Roman Catholic Church in Nepal is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Vatican City. As of 2004 there are 7,105 Catholics in Nepal, organized into one Catholic jurisdiction known as an apostolic vicariate. [cite web | author= Cheney, David M. | year=2004| title= Vicariate Apostolic of Nepal| format= | work= catholic-hierarchy.org | url=http://catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dnepa.html| accessdate=2006-06-18]

Catholicism was first propagated in the 18th century, though from 1810 to 1950 no missionaries were allowed in Nepal. Since 1951, missionaries have again been allowed, though conversion to Christianity is still illegal. In 1983 a mission "sui iuris" covering Nepal was created, and in 1996 it was raised to an Apostolic Prefecture. The 1990 constitution did not guarantee religious freedom for Christians, but as of May 2006 Nepal has been declared a secular state and the constitution will likely be rewritten, leading to hopes that religious freedom may be established. On February 10 2007, Benedict XVI elevated the prefecture of Nepal to the rank of a vicariate and appointed Anthony Sharma as the first vicar and first Nepalese bishop of the catholic church.

Origins

The history of Catholicism in Nepal begins with its inclusion in the diocese of Funchal, Portugal, and in 1533 part of the diocese of Goa. From then on until 1983, it was a part of many different Indian dioceses. Missionaries entered Nepal proper in 1715, when Capuchin fathers entered the Kathmandu Valley at the invitation of the Malla Kings. Father Sharma Anthony Francis, who has headed the catholic mission and then prefecture since 1983, has stated "The priests were given full authority to preach Christianity and even build a church, called Our Lady's Assumption, somewhere in Lalitpur District" Assumption was built in 1760, and another church called Annunciation of Our Lady was built in Bhaktapur. After the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah into a Hindu kingdom, the priests were asked to leave for fear they were British spies. In 1769 the priests and many Nepalese Christians left for India and settled in Chuhair, Northern Bihar where they have remained. One Catholic priest did remain until his death in 1810. After that, there was no Christian presence until 1950.cite web | author=Chhetri, Srijana | month=December | year=2004| title= Nepal’s First Churches| format= | work= wavemag.com.np | url=http://www.wavemag.com.np/issue/article697.html| accessdate=2006-06-18] On May 19, 1893, the whole of Nepal was added to the Prefecture of Bettiah. [cite web | author=Battandier, Albert | year=1911| title=Bettiah | format= | work=Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. II | url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02538a.htm| accessdate=2006-06-12] It was then a part of the Patna, India apostolic vicariate from 1919 until the establishment of the mission covering only Nepal in 1983. [cite web | author=Chhetri, Srijana | date= November 26, 2000| title= Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Nepal| format= | work= katolsk.no | url=http://www.katolsk.no/utenriks/kronologi/nepal.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18]

20th century

With the introduction of democracy in 1951, Jesuit missionaries started educational institutions but were not allowed to evangelize. Saint Xavier's School was established in 1951. The Catholic Mission was established in 1983 with territory taken from Patna diocese in India and entrusted to the care of the Jesuits.cite web | author=| date= September 7, 2003| title= First Official Visit by New Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana| format= | work= Fides | url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Nepal/NewsArchive.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18] In 1992 the Church of the Assumption, a new church built with its name harkening back to the original Assumption church, was officially recognized.cite web | author=Chhetri, Srijana | month=December | year=2004| title= Nepal’s First Churches| format= | work= wavemag.com.np | url=http://www.wavemag.com.np/issue/article697.html| accessdate=2006-06-18] In 1996 the Mission was elevated to the rank of Apostolic Prefecture.cite web | author=| date= September 7, 2003| title= First Official Visit by New Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana| format= | work= Fides | url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Nepal/NewsArchive.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18]

Father Sharma spent Easter day in 1986 in a police station for preaching to non-Christian relatives of some of the faithful attending church with them. Conversion to Christianity was forbidden by law, and was reiterated by the 1990 constitution that created a multi-party democracy. Since 1990, the law had not been enforced. [cite web | author=Akkara, Anto | date= May 8, 2006| title=Christianity grows rapidly in Nepal, despite ban on conversions| format= | work= Ecumenical News International | url=http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2006/06254.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18]

21st century

At the diplomatic level, Nepal has exchanged ambassadors with the Vatican. [cite web | author=| date=February 1, 2001| title= Bilateral and multilateral relationships of the Holy See | work= Vatican.va | url=http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_20010123_holy-see-relations_en.html| accessdate=2006-06-18] Before King Gyanendra was stripped of his powers by the Sansad (Nepalese parliament), there had been hope of official recognition by the state since the king was educated at a Catholic school and was a pupil of the current Prefect Apostolic, Nepalese Jesuit Father Anthony Sharma.cite web | author=| date= September 7, 2003| title= First Official Visit by New Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana| format= | work= Fides | url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Nepal/NewsArchive.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18] In May 2006, church leaders welcomed the parliamentary declaration that Nepal is now a "secular state," a change from what had been the only officially Hindu country in the world. [cite web | author=| date= May 22, 2006| title= UCAN: Catholic leaders welcome Nepal becoming secular state | format= | work= Union of Catholic Asian News | url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=19914| accessdate=2006-06-18] The first open air Christian musical program was hosted to celebrate the beginning of religious freedom for the first time in Nepal's history. [cite web | author=| date= July 3, 2006| title= Christians hold open-air musical program to celebrate country's new religious freedom | format= | work= Union of Catholic Asian News | url=http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=2190| accessdate=2006-06-18]

Maoist rebels have targeted Catholic institutions in recent years, such as their torching of two Catholic schools in 2002 in the Gurkha region. [cite web | author=| date= October 13, 2002| title= Attacks on Schools Fail to Deter Church in Nepal| format= | work= Zenit News Agency | url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Nepal/NewsArchive.htm| accessdate=2006-06-18] A mission in Eastern Nepal was subject to attack by Maoist insurgents in 2003, destroying a residence, clinic, chapel, kindergarten and kitchens. [cite web | author=Coday, Dennis| date= October 10, 2003| title= Maoists torch Catholic mission| format= | work= National Catholic Reporter | url=http://www.highbeam.com/library/docFree.asp?DOCID=1G1:110220548| accessdate=2006-06-18] During Maoist attempts to call a national school strike, they attacked a small Catholic school in mid-western Nepal with a bomb. [cite web | author=Coday, Dennis | date= June 18, 2004| title= Violence closes Nepal's schools| format= | work= National Catholic Reporter | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_32_40/ai_n6094948| accessdate=2006-07-04]

The Nepalese church continues to grow and become more active. A convent was inaugurated along with a training center in western Nepal in June 2006, a first for western Nepal. [cite web | author=| date= June 22, 2006| title= First permanent buildings give Church more presence in Nepal| format= | work= Union of Catholic Asian News | url=http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=2094| accessdate=2006-07-04] At Nepals first Catholic church, the Church of the Assumption in Katmandu, there are English masses said on Sundays. [cite web | author=Vance, Karen | date= August 30, 2004| title= Missionary's learned much in Nepal| format= | work= The Enquirer| url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/30/loc_loc2apriest.html| accessdate=2006-07-04] Six Nepalese youths went to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany despite having a difficult time obtaining visas from German officials. [cite web | author= | date= August 10, 2005| title= Getting visas for six Nepalese youths to attend the WYD proves complicated | format= | work= AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3893| accessdate=2006-07-04] Catholic Relief Services conducts many programs in the country, including counteracting the trade in women and children and aiding those affected by floods and landslides. [cite web | author= | year=2006| title=Our Work: Nepal | format= | work= Catholic Relief Services | url=http://www.crs.org/our_work/where_we_work/overseas/Asia/nepal/index.cfm| accessdate=2006-07-04] And in a display of inter-religious cooperation, the Olympic torch was brought to the top of the sacred mountain of Makalu, having been blessed by both Pope Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama. [cite web | author=Dubey, Prakash | date= June 5, 2006| title= Olympic torch blessed by pope on sacred mount | format= | work= AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=6356| accessdate=2006-07-04] On February 10th, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI raised the status of the jurisdiction to a vicariate. [cite web | author= | date= February 12, 2007| title= Nepalese native promoted to vicariate | format= | work= Fides| url=http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idarticle=7869| accessdate=2007-02-20]

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic.org.np/ Nepal Catholic Society]