Catholic Church in Guatemala
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The Catholic Church in Guatemala is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under spiritual leadership of the Pope, Curia in Rome and the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala. There are approximately 7.7[1] million Catholics in Guatemala, which is about 46% of the total population of 17.1 million citizens.[2]
History
Introduction of Protestantism
Historically, Guatemala has been predominantly Catholic. Beginning in 1959, after
Charismatic Catholicism
Charismatic Catholics is a religious movement that has a set mind to increase the number of Catholic converts. Its members in Guatemala increase the numbers of Catholics in Latin America with the help of social organizations, missionaries, and clergy. In the mid twentieth century, Catholic Guatemalans feared that Catholicism would become the minority to Protestantism. Many Catholics began converting to Protestantism instead during this time period. Also, there were very few native Guatemalan priests because this job was mostly taken up by missionaries from the United States. The Charismatic Catholics bounced back with a large number of foreign missionaries, an increase in Guatemalan priests, and other lay revitalization within the Church as a whole. They believed that "the quest for identity was important and difficult" in the changing modern times.[5]
Status of Religious Freedom
There is no state religion in Guatemala, however the
San Andrés Xécul Church
The San Andrés Xecul is a Catholic church in the Western Highland of Guatemala built in 1900. It is painted in baroque style architecture, and was restored in 2008. The outside walls of the church contain 200 painted sculptures of humans, angels, monkeys, fruit, corn, and birds of all different colors. These images are important to Mayan people who live in this region because it contains many agricultural images which symbolize this regions main source of economy. Also, the design of the outside of the San Andrés Xécul is similar to the huipils worn by Guatemala women. Inside the church there are chandeliers made from glass stone, coins, rosary beads, candles, and other depictions and sculptures of Christ.[6]
Turmoil in Guatemala
Social Discrimination and Disputes
There have been several disputes between Catholics and the indigenous
Revolution and Disaster
During the 1960s, revolutionary upheaval began in
Organization of the Catholic Church in Guatemala
Dioceses
- Archdiocese of Guatemala[9]
- Diocese of Escuintla
- Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima
- Diocese of Jalapa
- Diocese of Verapaz, Cobán
- Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
- Archdiocese of Los Altos Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán[9]
Apostolic Vicariates
See also
- List of Central American and Caribbean saints
References
- ^ CIA Factbook
- ^ "Las religiones en tiempos del Papa Francisco" (in Spanish). Latinobarómetro. April 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (pdf) on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Guatemala: International Religious Freedom Report 2006". U.S. Department of State.
- ^ a b Duffey, Michael K. "Religious diversity, societal change, and ecumenical prospects in Guatemala". Journal of Ecumenical Studies.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cleary, Edward, L. Charismatic Catholicism in Latin America. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "San Andrés Xecul Church". Sacred Destinations. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ Duffey, Michael K. "Religious diversity, societal change, and ecumenical prospects in Guatemala". Journal of Ecumenical Studies.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Historical Overview of Pentecostalism in Guatemala". Pew Research Center. October 5, 2006.
- ^ a b "Guatemala: All Dioceses". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 5 December 2011.