Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – In Pakistan (meaning “Land of the pure”), with a population of 167 million people, 97% are Muslims, the majority being Sunni and 20% being Shiites. The Christians make up 2.5% of the population, and among these, there are about 1 million Catholics who try to live their role in the society, as a religious minority. The Pakistani Constitution, while it defines the country as an “Islamic Republic,” affirms in Article 20 that every citizen has the right to freedom of worship, creed, and divulgence of their own faith. Article 36 declares that the State protects the interests and rights of the minority, however oftentimes, the reality is a bit different and Christians are marginalized. Incidents of intolerance have occurred, mainly from the “law on blasphemy,” which was proclaimed by General Zia in 1985: whosoever defames the Koran can be sentenced to life in prison and whosoever commits blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, can be sentenced to death.
Despite difficulties, however, the Church in Pakistan continues on its path and continues to progress in its mission, working in the areas of pastoral care and evangelization. The ecclesiastical jurisdictions are Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta (Apostolic Vicariate), Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad-Rawlpindi, and Multan. According to information sent to Agenzia Fides from the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, there are 1.1 million Catholics. There are 270 priests, among which there are 147 diocesan and 123 religious, for an average of 1 priest for every 4,500 baptized faithful. The religious brothers number 47. There are 95 major seminarians, in formation in the country’s two major seminaries: the Theological Seminary of Christ the King, in Karachi, and the Philosophical Seminary of St. Francis Xavier in Lahore. There are 4 minor seminarians in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
The pastoral labor also receives support from 169 religious priests and brothers (from 14 congregations) and 753 religious sisters (from 27 congregations), who all work according to their charism in the parish activities, generally helping out with catechism classes or offering their services in the schools and hospitals. There are also two cloistered monasteries in Pakistan: Dominican Sisters in Karachi and Carmelite Sisters in Lahore. There are 530 lay catechists and the Bishops say they are irreplaceable in the evangelization efforts. They have an excellent formation and have a vast field of action to cover. In the towns where weekly Mass cannot be held, catechists lead a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word. In addition to the evangelization effort (for example among the tribal areas), they work as religion teachers in the Catholic schools. They receive formation through institutes or courses, such as the Multan Pastoral Institute.
The Church also works in the social field, through educational institutions that currently number 560 in the country. All possess the quality and demand of Catholic schools and have a fair number of entrance requirements. Religion classes in the Catholic schools are held on a regular basis, while in the state schools, it varies according to the town. The Church is also working in the area of health and social work with hospitals, clinics, houses for the elderly, and housing for the homeless and disabled, for a total number of 128 institutes, often founded and directed by religious congregations.
The Church is also very active in the area of cultural awareness and in the campaigns for respect of human rights and democratic principles, and for the promotion of the dignity of the human person among all Pakistani citizens, especially via the Justice and Peace Commission, some instruments of communications media, and lay Catholic associations.
In their relationship with the Islamic religion, there are opportunities for cooperation, respect, and collaboration. However, there are also areas like the northwestern region, that have experience difficulties from the spread of a form of fundamentalist Islam. In these cases, the Catholic community receives threats and are marginalized (see Fides 18/9/2007). A dossier on the conformation and identity of the Muslim community in Pakistan is available at: http://www.fides.org/ita/documents/dossier_pakistan_080807.doc
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/6/2008)
