In 1627, two Portuguese Jesuits, Fathers Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral, traveling from Cochin and attempting to make a new route to the Jesuit mission in Shigatse, Tibet,[1] visited Bhutan. While in Bhutan, these Jesuits met Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder and religious leader of the Bhutanese state, and spent months in his court. The "Zhabdrung strongly encouraged the Jesuits to stay and even allowed them to use a room in Cheri [Monastery] as a chapel, granted them land in Paro to build a church and sent some of his own attendants to join the congregation. With no success in conversion and despite much discouragement from the Zhabdrung against their departure, the Jesuits eventually left for Tibet"[2] At the end of a stay of nearly eight months in the country, Cacella wrote a long letter from Cheri Monastery to his superior in Cochin in the Malabar Coast; it was a report, the Relação, relating the progress of their travels. Their visit is also corroborated in contemporaneous Bhutanese sources, including the biography of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal himself.[3]
20th centuryedit
Two religious orders - the Jesuits in 1963 and the Salesians in 1965 - were invited to the country to open schools. The Salesians were expelled in February 1982 on disputed charges of proselytism. The only Catholic missionary allowed to stay in the country - from 1963 until his death in 1995 - was the Canadian-born Bhutanese Jesuit Father William Mackey, who opened several secondary schools and the pre-university Sherubtse College. As his mission was to build up a modern educational system in the country he did not attempt any conversions.[4]
21st centuryedit
Bhutan's first Catholic priest was convinced to join the clergy by Mother Teresa.
In the early 2000s, there are thought to be about 1,000 Catholics in the country where Christians of all denominations are subject to discrimination.[5] In 2020, Catholics were estimated to make up 0.18% of the population, or approximately 1,500 people.[6]
The official religion is Buddhism and in the past Catholic missions have been denied entry.[7][8]
On Palm Sunday, April 8, 2001, Bhutanese police went to churches and registered the names of believers and threatened one pastor with imprisonment after an interrogation.[9] It is illegal for Christians to hold public services.[10] The Constitution of Bhutan protects freedom of religion for Bhutanese citizens, but proselytism is forbidden. Article 7.4 states: "A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought conscience and religion. No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement."[11]
The first Bhutanese-born Catholic priest, Rev Kinley Tshering, SJ, was ordained in 1986. He was initially dissuaded by missionaries but after a meeting with Mother Teresa he decided to become a Catholic priest.[12] As a citizen of the country, he travels freely in Bhutan, and celebrates the Christmas Mass under the pretext of his birthday on December 24.[13] He is also thought to be the first convert from Buddhism to the Christian faith in Bhutan.[14] In 2023, he is the only native-born priest.[15]
Bhutan has never had a native Catholic hierarchical jurisdiction, but is covered by the Diocese of Darjeeling.[16][17]
^David M. Malone (March 2008). . Literary Review of Canada. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
^Karma Phuntsho (2013). The History of Bhutan. Random House India. pp. 224–227. ISBN9788184003116.
^gTsang mKhan-chen ’Jam-dbyangs dPal-ldan rGyamtsho (c.1675). Dpal ’brug pa rin po che ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam par thar pa rgyas pa chos kyi sprin chen po’i dbyangs, in 5 parts (Ka - Ca) and a supplement (Cha).Reprint by Topden Tshering entitled The Detailed Biography of the First Zabs-drung Rinpoche of Bhutan Ngag-dbang-rnam-rgyal (Ngag-dbang-bdud-’joms-rdo-rje) (Dolanji, 1974, from the Punakha woodblocks of ca. 1797-1802)
^. Fides. April 17, 1998. Archived from the original on 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
^Dubey, Prakash (February 23, 2006). . Asianews.it. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
^(PDF). Royal Government of Bhutan. 2008. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-05.
^. Catholic News Agency. June 5, 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
^. AsiaNews.it. January 20, 2004. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
^. Union of Catholic Asian News. May 29, 2007. Archived from the original on September 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
^"'I am a person with great hope': Meet the Church's only Bhutanese priest". The Pillar. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
^"Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Bhutan". katolsk.no. September 8, 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
^Prakash Dubey (October 27, 2006). "Only university graduates to run for office in Bhutan's first 'democratic' elections". asianews.it. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
May 12, 2024
catholic, church, bhutan, part, worldwide, catholic, church, under, spiritual, leadership, pope, rome, kingdom, bhutan, falls, under, jurisdiction, diocese, darjeeling, india, contents, origins, 20th, century, 21st, century, also, referencesorigins, editin, 16. The Catholic Church in Bhutan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome The Kingdom of Bhutan falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Darjeeling India Contents 1 Origins 2 20th century 3 21st century 4 See also 5 ReferencesOrigins editIn 1627 two Portuguese Jesuits Fathers Estevao Cacella and Joao Cabral traveling from Cochin and attempting to make a new route to the Jesuit mission in Shigatse Tibet 1 visited Bhutan While in Bhutan these Jesuits met Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal the founder and religious leader of the Bhutanese state and spent months in his court The Zhabdrung strongly encouraged the Jesuits to stay and even allowed them to use a room in Cheri Monastery as a chapel granted them land in Paro to build a church and sent some of his own attendants to join the congregation With no success in conversion and despite much discouragement from the Zhabdrung against their departure the Jesuits eventually left for Tibet 2 At the end of a stay of nearly eight months in the country Cacella wrote a long letter from Cheri Monastery to his superior in Cochin in the Malabar Coast it was a report the Relacao relating the progress of their travels Their visit is also corroborated in contemporaneous Bhutanese sources including the biography of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal himself 3 20th century editTwo religious orders the Jesuits in 1963 and the Salesians in 1965 were invited to the country to open schools The Salesians were expelled in February 1982 on disputed charges of proselytism The only Catholic missionary allowed to stay in the country from 1963 until his death in 1995 was the Canadian born Bhutanese Jesuit Father William Mackey who opened several secondary schools and the pre university Sherubtse College As his mission was to build up a modern educational system in the country he did not attempt any conversions 4 21st century edit nbsp Bhutan s first Catholic priest was convinced to join the clergy by Mother Teresa In the early 2000s there are thought to be about 1 000 Catholics in the country where Christians of all denominations are subject to discrimination 5 In 2020 Catholics were estimated to make up 0 18 of the population or approximately 1 500 people 6 The official religion is Buddhism and in the past Catholic missions have been denied entry 7 8 On Palm Sunday April 8 2001 Bhutanese police went to churches and registered the names of believers and threatened one pastor with imprisonment after an interrogation 9 It is illegal for Christians to hold public services 10 The Constitution of Bhutan protects freedom of religion for Bhutanese citizens but proselytism is forbidden Article 7 4 states A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought conscience and religion No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement 11 The first Bhutanese born Catholic priest Rev Kinley Tshering SJ was ordained in 1986 He was initially dissuaded by missionaries but after a meeting with Mother Teresa he decided to become a Catholic priest 12 As a citizen of the country he travels freely in Bhutan and celebrates the Christmas Mass under the pretext of his birthday on December 24 13 He is also thought to be the first convert from Buddhism to the Christian faith in Bhutan 14 In 2023 he is the only native born priest 15 Bhutan has never had a native Catholic hierarchical jurisdiction but is covered by the Diocese of Darjeeling 16 17 See also editReligion in Bhutan Christianity in Bhutan Catholic Church in India Catholic Church in Nepal Catholic Church in Tibet Catholic Church by countryReferences edit David M Malone March 2008 Our Man in Bhutan Literary Review of Canada Archived from the original on April 21 2008 Retrieved 2008 03 11 Karma Phuntsho 2013 The History of Bhutan Random House India pp 224 227 ISBN 9788184003116 gTsang mKhan chen Jam dbyangs dPal ldan rGyamtsho c 1675 Dpal brug pa rin po che ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam par thar pa rgyas pa chos kyi sprin chen po i dbyangs in 5 parts Ka Ca and a supplement Cha Reprint by Topden Tshering entitled The Detailed Biography of the First Zabs drung Rinpoche of Bhutan Ngag dbang rnam rgyal Ngag dbang bdud joms rdo rje Dolanji 1974 from the Punakha woodblocks of ca 1797 1802 Asia at a Glance Fides April 17 1998 Archived from the original on 2006 06 13 Retrieved 2006 06 18 Dubey Prakash February 23 2006 Almost no place for minority religions on Bhutan s national TV Asianews it Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved 2006 06 18 The ARDA website retrieved 2023 08 28 No masses and entry visas for Catholic priests AsiaNews it January 20 2004 Retrieved 2011 09 26 Coday Dennis January 16 2004 Bhutan bans public masses Catholic National Reporter Retrieved 2006 06 18 Christians Told To Leave Faith Or Leave Bhutan Catholic World News April 20 2001 Retrieved 2006 06 18 US State Dept 2022 report The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan PDF Royal Government of Bhutan 2008 p 14 Archived from the original PDF on 2014 09 05 Jesuit priest yearns to return to Buddhist homeland Catholic News Agency June 5 2007 Archived from the original on 2021 03 09 Retrieved 2008 03 11 No masses and entry visas for Catholic priests AsiaNews it January 20 2004 Archived from the original on November 28 2005 Retrieved 2006 06 18 Bhutan s only Buddhist convert yearns to bring Catholicism to homeland Union of Catholic Asian News May 29 2007 Archived from the original on September 1 2007 Retrieved 2008 03 11 I am a person with great hope Meet the Church s only Bhutanese priest The Pillar 2023 08 03 Retrieved 2023 08 04 Chronology of Catholic Dioceses Bhutan katolsk no September 8 2004 Retrieved 2008 03 11 Prakash Dubey October 27 2006 Only university graduates to run for office in Bhutan s first democratic elections asianews it Retrieved 2008 03 11 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catholic Church in Bhutan amp oldid 1186010793, 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