An inquiry carried out by the Pontifical Council for
Pastoral Care of Health Workers and the Sick showed that that the Church
is present in 21.757 institutions Chiesa, in 12.596 places in 135 countries,
or 76% of the countries in the world.
In 108 of the countries involved in the survey Catholicism is practised;
in the remaining 27 non Catholic countries the Church is present with
many health institutions in (Algeria, Comore Islands, Ethiopia, Japan,
Djibouti, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nepal,
Norway, Pakistan, etc..): these are mostly African or Asian countries
of Islamic, Buddhist, Taoist religion etc.
Of health institutions of which the owner is known, 37.4% belong to
religious orders and 19.12% to diocese for a total 56.52%. In Africa
and in Asia about 80% health institutions of which the owner is known,
belong to religious orders (respectively 35% and 70%) and dioceses (respectively
45% and 10%); and in America 60% (47%) religious orders and (13%) dioceses;
in Europe out of a total of 39%, 30% belong to religious orders and
9% to dioceses.
In India there are 2.729 institutions equal to 70% on the Asian continent;
83% of the people is Hindu only 3% is Christian. More than 100 religious
orders work here. Guatemala, Haiti, Costa Rica, El Salvador have 92
Catholic health institutions. (AP) (2/1/2004 Fides Service; lines:143
words:1923)
IN-DEPHT STUDY
