ASIA/KAZAKHSTAN - Church in Kazakhstan officially enters the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)

Astana (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Kazakhstan has been officially admitted to form part of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), closing a chapter in their institutionalization and full insertion into the Church in the Asian continent. The Bishops' Conference of Kazakhstan consists of the archdiocese of Astana, two additional dioceses, and two Apostolic Administrations. From the 15 million inhabitants of the country some 60 percent are Shiite Moslems, while some 40 percent are Christians, mainly Orthodox. There are approximately 250,000 Roman Catholics. The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) is a voluntary association of episcopal conferences in Asia, established with the approval of the Holy See. Its purpose is to foster among its members solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of Church and society in Asia, and to promote and defend whatever is for the greater good.
The Central Committee of the FABC, which comprises the presidents of the member Bishops' Conferences and the nine FABC Offices of the Federation, headquartered in in Bangkok (Thailand), With the official acceptance of the Bishops' Conference of Kasakhstan, the Federation now comprises 15 Bishops' Conferences and 10 Associate members, which are Church territories with less than three dioceses or ecclesiastical territories. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/4/2008 righe 18, parole 202)