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{{Catholic Church by country}} |
{{Catholic Church by country}} |
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The '''Catholic Church in Liberia''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]]. |
The '''Catholic Church in Liberia''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]]. |
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In 2020, there were approximately 348,000 Catholics in [[Liberia]] (7.52% of the population).<ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/liberia] |
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Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08</ref> There are 3 dioceses including 1 [[archdiocese]]:<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/dlr2.html ''Catholic Hierarchy'' website, retrieved 2023-08-28]</ref> |
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* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia|Monrovia]] |
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia|Monrovia]] |
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** |
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas|Cape Palmas]] (located in [[Harper, Liberia|Harper, Maryland County]]) |
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** [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gbarnga|Gbarnga]] |
** [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gbarnga|Gbarnga]] (located in [[Gbarnga|Gbargna, Bong County]]) |
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[[Lewis Jerome Zeigler]] was the archbishop until 2021; in 2023, the seat is vacant. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Background=== |
===Background=== |
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At the beginning of the 20th century, the Americo-Liberian settlers were to be found on the seacoast and at the mouths of the two most important rivers. Of the native tribes the principal are the Veys, the Pessehs, the Barlines, the Bassas, the Kru, the Grebo, and the Mandingos |
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Americo-Liberian settlers were to be found on the seacoast and at the mouths of the two most important rivers. Of the native tribes, the principal are the Veys, the Pessehs, the Barlines, the Bassas, the Kru, the Grebo, and the Mandingos. The converts came chiefly from the Kru and the Grebo. Methodist, [[Baptist]], [[Presbyterian]]s, and [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]] missions had been established in the country for many years with scant results at the beginning of the 19th century. |
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===First American mission to Liberia=== |
===First American mission to Liberia=== |
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As a number of the first American colonists were |
As a number of the first American colonists were Catholics from Maryland and the adjoining states, they eventually caught the attention of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] and the second Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1833 undertook to meet the difficulty of sending missionaries to serve the local faithful. In accordance with the measures taken, Rev. Edward Barron, Vicar-General of Philadelphia, Rev. John Kelly of New York, and Denis Pindar, a lay catechist from Baltimore, volunteered for the mission and sailed for Africa from Baltimore on 2 December 1841. They arrived there safe and Father Barron serve the first Mass at [[Cape Palmas]] on 10 February 1842. After a time, finding that he did not receive missionaries enough to accomplish anything practical, Father Barron returned to the [[United States]], and thence went to [[Rome]] where he was made on 22 January 1842, Vicar Apostolic of the Two Guineas, and titular Bishop of Constantia. |
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===Missionary takeover of religious congregations=== |
===Missionary takeover of religious congregations=== |
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With seven priests of the [[Holy Ghost Fathers|Congregation of the Holy Ghost]] he returned to Liberia, arriving at Cape Palmas on 30 November 1843. Five of these priests died on the mission of fever, to which Denis Pindar, the lay catechist, also fell a victim, 1 January 1844. Bishop Barron and Father Kelly held out for two years, and then, wasted by fever, they determined to return to the United States, feeling that it was impossible to withstand the climate any longer. Bishop Barron died of yellow fever during an epidemic at Savannah, Georgia, 12 September 1854, Father Kelly died at Jersey City, New Jersey, 28 April 1866. |
With seven priests of the [[Holy Ghost Fathers|Congregation of the Holy Ghost]], he returned to Liberia, arriving at Cape Palmas on 30 November 1843. Five of these priests died on the mission of fever, to which Denis Pindar, the lay catechist, also fell a victim,on 1 January 1844. Bishop Barron and Father Kelly held out for two years, and then, wasted by fever, they determined to return to the United States, feeling that it was impossible to withstand the climate any longer. Bishop Barron died of yellow fever during an epidemic at Savannah, Georgia,on 12 September 1854, and Father Kelly died at Jersey City, New Jersey,on 28 April 1866. |
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The Fathers of the Holy Ghost, who took up the work, were also forced by the climate to abandon it in a couple of years, and the permanent mission lapsed until 25 February 1884. The [[Company of Mary|Fathers of Montfort]] (Company of Mary), under Fathers Blanchet and Lorber, then laid the foundation of another mission at [[Monrovia]]. The President of the Republic, Mr. Johnson, and the people generally gave them a cordial welcome, because of its emphasis on providing a |
The Fathers of the Holy Ghost, who took up the work, were also forced by the climate to abandon it in a couple of years, and the permanent mission lapsed until 25 February 1884. The [[Company of Mary|Fathers of Montfort]] (Company of Mary), under Fathers Blanchet and Lorber, then laid the foundation of another mission at [[Monrovia]]. The President of the Republic, Mr. Johnson, and the people generally gave them a cordial welcome, because of its emphasis on providing a thorough education, but the sectarian ministers organized a cabal against them, and endeavoured to thwart all their efforts to spread the Catholic faith. They made some progress in spite of this, and in the following year, having received reinforcements from France, opened a school for boys and extended their operations into other places. Father Bourzeix learned the native language, in which he compiled a catechism and translated a number of hymns. Deaths among the missionaries and the health of the others shattered by fever forced these priests also to abandon the Liberia mission. After this it was visited occasionally by missionaries from Sierra Leone until 1906, when the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples handed its care over to the [[Society of African Missions]] from [[Lyon]], and three Irish priests, Fathers Stephen Kyne, Joseph Butler, and Dennis O'Sullivan, with two French assistants, continued to work among the 2800 Catholics the vicariate was estimated to contain in 1910.<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Liberia}}</ref> |
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Diplomatic |
Diplomatic relations between the [[Holy See]] and Liberia were established in 1927, celebrated by a spectacular and massive march through the streets of Monrovia on the feast of [[Christ the King]], which subsequently boosted registration in Catholic schools and a lasting foundation of Catholicism.<ref>Burrowes, Carl Patrick. Power and press freedom in Liberia, 1830–1970: the impact of globalization and civil society on media-government relations, p. 130. Africa World Press, 2004. {{ISBN|1-59221-294-8}}</ref> |
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==Outspokenness during the dictatorships== |
==Outspokenness during the dictatorships== |
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Under the [[dictatorship]]s of [[William Tubman]] up to [[Samuel Doe]], the Catholic Church continued its work in education and with the poor, as well as using its voice to denounce abuses and corruption under the different dictatorial regimes. The Catholic Church was seen as more trustworthy than other churches because its peculiar mode of financing and hierarchy did not leave it at the government's mercy. Its financing came "predominantly from giant German agencies which would simply cease contributing if previous grants were not scrupulously accounted for." Because |
Under the [[dictatorship]]s of [[William Tubman]] up to [[Samuel Doe]], the Catholic Church continued its work in education and with the poor, as well as using its voice to denounce abuses and corruption under the different dictatorial regimes. The Catholic Church was seen as more trustworthy than other churches because its peculiar mode of financing and hierarchy did not leave it at the government's mercy. Its financing came "predominantly from giant German agencies which would simply cease contributing if previous grants were not scrupulously accounted for." Because it did not include high-ranking government officials, and because of the Catholic episcopal authority (prelates were not elected for just a few years), the Church benefited from a great freedom of expression, which it used wisely to denounce the government when necessary, using "machinery for public comment on national issues" with the Lenten or Advent Pastoral Letters. Archbishop [[Michael Kpakala Francis]] in his first letter written in 1977, denounced corruption in these words: |
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{{ |
{{Blockquote|"It is not too late to stop this ugly trend of [[Political corruption|corruption]] in our country. We are proud to call ourselves [[Christians|Christian]], but can we honestly do so if corrupt practices are the normal things in our lives?"<ref>Cited in Gifford, Paul. Christianity and politics in Doe's Liberia, p. 56. ''Cambridge University Press, 2002''. {{ISBN|0-521-52010-X}}</ref>| First Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Francis, 1977}} |
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The Catholic Church also used its voice to condemn the systematic recourse to violence for political ends in Liberia. For instance, after [[Samuel Doe]]'s coup in 1980, the Catholic Bishops were quick in bringing out a statement on "The Liberian Situation", emphasizing the role of the Church in the country's political life, "without usurping the role of the State and without favouring any party." The bishops reminded the State of its duty to protect and not breach the citizens' rights. The statement declared that: |
The Catholic Church also used its voice to condemn the systematic recourse to violence for political ends in Liberia. For instance, after [[Samuel Doe]]'s coup in 1980, the Catholic Bishops were quick in bringing out a statement on "The Liberian Situation", emphasizing the role of the Church in the country's political life, "without usurping the role of the State and without favouring any party." The bishops reminded the State of its duty to protect and not breach the citizens' rights. The statement declared that: |
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{{ |
{{Blockquote|"[[Violence]] has no place in a just government. Violence destroys the very fabric of society, foments hatred and brings about hostility where there should be [[love]]"<ref>Cited in Gifford, Paul. Christianity and politics in Doe's Liberia, pp. 72–73. ''Cambridge University Press, 2002''. {{ISBN|0-521-52010-X}}</ref>|Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on "The Liberian Situation", 1980}} |
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==Civil war and aftermath== |
==Civil war and aftermath== |
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During the |
During the [[First Liberian Civil War|1989–1997 Liberian Civil War]], many churches and religious centres were used as shelters. Priests and religious were also the target of violence and many were killed.<ref>[http://www.theinformer-lr.com/oneadmin/newspublish/samplenewspublish.php?news_id=3394&start=0&category_id=0&parent_id=0&pageaction2=searchnews&searchby=bykey&searchkey=catholic&datesearch= US Embassy Remembers Five Slain Catholic Nuns, Church Wants War Crimes Court In Liberia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717003717/http://www.theinformer-lr.com/oneadmin/newspublish/samplenewspublish.php?news_id=3394&start=0&category_id=0&parent_id=0&pageaction2=searchnews&searchby=bykey&searchkey=catholic&datesearch=# |date=17 July 2011 }}. [http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php ''The Informer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609133450/http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php# |date=9 June 2009 }} (Monrovia). 16-07-2008. Obtained 31-06-09.</ref> The Catholic Church in Liberia has on many occasions renewed its appeal for a War Crimes Court to be set up, "in an effort to enhance the justice system against individuals who commit atrocities against Liberians", as reconciliation must come with justice.<ref>Toe, Jerome. [http://www.theinformer-lr.com/oneadmin/newspublish/samplenewspublish.php?news_id=3343&start=0&category_id=0&parent_id=0&pageaction2=searchnews&searchby=bykey&searchkey=catholic&datesearch= Catholic Prelate Calls For War Crimes Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717003937/http://www.theinformer-lr.com/oneadmin/newspublish/samplenewspublish.php?news_id=3343&start=0&category_id=0&parent_id=0&pageaction2=searchnews&searchby=bykey&searchkey=catholic&datesearch=# |date=17 July 2011 }}. [http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php ''The Informer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609133450/http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php# |date=9 June 2009 }} (Monrovia). 16-07-2008. Obtained 30-06-09.</ref> |
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==Involvement in the fight against AIDS== |
==Involvement in the fight against AIDS== |
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In 2009, as part of its effort "to complement government and global efforts to create an increased awareness on the prevention of the [[HIV/AIDS|HIV and AIDS]] pandemic", the Catholic Heath Secretariat of the Diocese of Gbarnga in Liberia renewed the local Church's commitment and perseverance by organizing "intense HIV/AIDs awareness and sensitization campaigns in [[Bong County]]".<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200906190615.html Liberia: Catholic Church Intensifies Crusade On HIV/Aids in Bong]. [http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php ''The Informer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609133450/http://www.theinformer-lr.com/index.php# |date=9 June 2009 }} (Monrovia). 19-06-2009. Obtained 30-06-09.</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Religion in Liberia]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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''This article incorporates text from the entry ''[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07114a.htm Liberia]'' in the [[public domain|public-domain]] ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' of 1910.'' |
''This article incorporates text from the entry ''[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07114a.htm Liberia]'' in the [[public domain|public-domain]] ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' of 1910.'' |
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{{Reflist}} |
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<references/> |
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{{Africa topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}} |
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{{Africa in topic|Roman Catholicism in}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT: |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catholic Church in Liberia}} |
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[[Category:Catholic Church in Liberia]] |
[[Category:Catholic Church in Liberia| ]] |
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[[Category:Catholic Church by country|Liberia]] |
[[Category:Catholic Church by country|Liberia]] |
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[[Category:Catholic Church in Africa|Liberia]] |
[[Category:Catholic Church in Africa|Liberia]] |
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The Catholic Church in Liberia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the PopeinRome.
In 2020, there were approximately 348,000 Catholics in Liberia (7.52% of the population).[1] There are 3 dioceses including 1 archdiocese:[2]
Lewis Jerome Zeigler was the archbishop until 2021; in 2023, the seat is vacant.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Americo-Liberian settlers were to be found on the seacoast and at the mouths of the two most important rivers. Of the native tribes, the principal are the Veys, the Pessehs, the Barlines, the Bassas, the Kru, the Grebo, and the Mandingos. The converts came chiefly from the Kru and the Grebo. Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterians, and Episcopalian missions had been established in the country for many years with scant results at the beginning of the 19th century.
As a number of the first American colonists were Catholics from Maryland and the adjoining states, they eventually caught the attention of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the second Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1833 undertook to meet the difficulty of sending missionaries to serve the local faithful. In accordance with the measures taken, Rev. Edward Barron, Vicar-General of Philadelphia, Rev. John Kelly of New York, and Denis Pindar, a lay catechist from Baltimore, volunteered for the mission and sailed for Africa from Baltimore on 2 December 1841. They arrived there safe and Father Barron serve the first Mass at Cape Palmas on 10 February 1842. After a time, finding that he did not receive missionaries enough to accomplish anything practical, Father Barron returned to the United States, and thence went to Rome where he was made on 22 January 1842, Vicar Apostolic of the Two Guineas, and titular Bishop of Constantia.
With seven priests of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, he returned to Liberia, arriving at Cape Palmas on 30 November 1843. Five of these priests died on the mission of fever, to which Denis Pindar, the lay catechist, also fell a victim, on 1 January 1844. Bishop Barron and Father Kelly held out for two years, and then, wasted by fever, they determined to return to the United States, feeling that it was impossible to withstand the climate any longer. Bishop Barron died of yellow fever during an epidemic at Savannah, Georgia, on 12 September 1854, and Father Kelly died at Jersey City, New Jersey, on 28 April 1866.
The Fathers of the Holy Ghost, who took up the work, were also forced by the climate to abandon it in a couple of years, and the permanent mission lapsed until 25 February 1884. The Fathers of Montfort (Company of Mary), under Fathers Blanchet and Lorber, then laid the foundation of another mission at Monrovia. The President of the Republic, Mr. Johnson, and the people generally gave them a cordial welcome, because of its emphasis on providing a thorough education, but the sectarian ministers organized a cabal against them, and endeavoured to thwart all their efforts to spread the Catholic faith. They made some progress in spite of this, and in the following year, having received reinforcements from France, opened a school for boys and extended their operations into other places. Father Bourzeix learned the native language, in which he compiled a catechism and translated a number of hymns. Deaths among the missionaries and the health of the others shattered by fever forced these priests also to abandon the Liberia mission. After this it was visited occasionally by missionaries from Sierra Leone until 1906, when the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples handed its care over to the Society of African Missions from Lyon, and three Irish priests, Fathers Stephen Kyne, Joseph Butler, and Dennis O'Sullivan, with two French assistants, continued to work among the 2800 Catholics the vicariate was estimated to contain in 1910.[3]
Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Liberia were established in 1927, celebrated by a spectacular and massive march through the streets of Monrovia on the feast of Christ the King, which subsequently boosted registration in Catholic schools and a lasting foundation of Catholicism.[4]
Under the dictatorshipsofWilliam Tubman up to Samuel Doe, the Catholic Church continued its work in education and with the poor, as well as using its voice to denounce abuses and corruption under the different dictatorial regimes. The Catholic Church was seen as more trustworthy than other churches because its peculiar mode of financing and hierarchy did not leave it at the government's mercy. Its financing came "predominantly from giant German agencies which would simply cease contributing if previous grants were not scrupulously accounted for." Because it did not include high-ranking government officials, and because of the Catholic episcopal authority (prelates were not elected for just a few years), the Church benefited from a great freedom of expression, which it used wisely to denounce the government when necessary, using "machinery for public comment on national issues" with the Lenten or Advent Pastoral Letters. Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis in his first letter written in 1977, denounced corruption in these words:
"It is not too late to stop this ugly trend of corruption in our country. We are proud to call ourselves Christian, but can we honestly do so if corrupt practices are the normal things in our lives?"[5]
— First Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Francis, 1977
The Catholic Church also used its voice to condemn the systematic recourse to violence for political ends in Liberia. For instance, after Samuel Doe's coup in 1980, the Catholic Bishops were quick in bringing out a statement on "The Liberian Situation", emphasizing the role of the Church in the country's political life, "without usurping the role of the State and without favouring any party." The bishops reminded the State of its duty to protect and not breach the citizens' rights. The statement declared that:
"Violence has no place in a just government. Violence destroys the very fabric of society, foments hatred and brings about hostility where there should be love"[6]
— Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on "The Liberian Situation", 1980
During the 1989–1997 Liberian Civil War, many churches and religious centres were used as shelters. Priests and religious were also the target of violence and many were killed.[7] The Catholic Church in Liberia has on many occasions renewed its appeal for a War Crimes Court to be set up, "in an effort to enhance the justice system against individuals who commit atrocities against Liberians", as reconciliation must come with justice.[8]
In 2009, as part of its effort "to complement government and global efforts to create an increased awareness on the prevention of the HIV and AIDS pandemic", the Catholic Heath Secretariat of the Diocese of Gbarnga in Liberia renewed the local Church's commitment and perseverance by organizing "intense HIV/AIDs awareness and sensitization campaigns in Bong County".[9]
This article incorporates text from the entry Liberia in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1910.
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