Christianity in Morocco

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cathedral of Rabat

Christians in Morocco constitute less than 1%[1][2] of the country's population of 33,600,000 (2014 census). Most of the Christian adherents are Catholic and Protestants.

Roman times, when it was practiced by Christian Berbers in Roman Mauretania Tingitana, although it disappeared after the Islamic conquests.[3] The Arabs started conquering the region of North Africa in the 7th century and in 698 Carthage was taken. Indigenous Christianity in North Africa effectively continued after the Muslim conquest until the early 15th century.[4][5]

During the French and Spanish protectorates, Morocco had significant populations of European Catholic settlers; on the eve of independence, an estimated 470,000 Catholics resided in Morocco.[6] Since independence in 1956, the European Christian population has decreased substantially, and many Christians left to France or Spain. Prior to independence, the European Catholic settlers had historic legacy and powerful presence.[6] Independence prompted a mass exodus of the European Christian settlers; after series of events over 1959-1960 more than 75% of Christian settlers left the country.[6]

In 2022, the U.S. State Department estimated the current number of Moroccan Christians as more than 40,000.[7] Pew-Templeton estimates the number of Moroccan Christians at 20,000.[8] The number of the Moroccans who converted to Christianity (most of them secret worshippers) are estimated between 8,000[9]–50,000.[10][11] Since 1960 a growing number of Moroccan Muslims are converting to Christianity.[12][13][14][15][16]

Criminal prohibitions

Article 3 of the Moroccan constitution "guarantees to all the free exercise of beliefs". However, the Moroccan criminal code prohibits conversions to other religions than Islam. Conversions of Muslims to Christianity (either

proselytization or apostasy
) often occurred during the colonial period, when laws against such conversions did not exist.

According to Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code, "anyone who employs incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion" incurs a sentence of three to six months' imprisonment and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams. Any attempt to induce a Muslim to convert is illegal. Foreign missionaries either limit their proselytizing to non-Muslims or attempt to conduct their work discreetly. In spite of these limitations, a 2015 study estimates some 3,000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background.[17]

In 2023, Morocco was ranked as one of the 30 countries in the world where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.[18]

History

Icon of Our Lady of Morocco.

Roman times, when it was practiced by Christian Berbers in Roman Mauretania Tingitana, although it disappeared after the Islamic conquests.[3]

Early Christianity

According to tradition, the

Hispaniae (a Latin plural) and hence in the Praetorian Prefecture of the Gauls (Mauretania Caesariensis was in the diocese of Africa, in the other pretorian prefecture within the western empire), and remained so until its conquest by the Vandals. Lucilius Constantius is recorded as governor (praeses
) in the mid to late fourth century.

Painting of Augustine of Hippo arguing with a man before an audience
Charles-André van Loo's 18th-century Augustine arguing with Donatists

Christianity was introduced to the region in the 2nd century AD, and gained converts in the towns and among slaves as well as among Berber farmers. By the end of the 4th century, the Romanized areas had been Christianized, and inroads had been made among the Berber tribes, who sometimes converted en masse.

Schismatic and heretical movements also developed, usually as forms of political protest. The area had a substantial Jewish population as well.[19]

Church of Carthage, from the fourth to the sixth centuries. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to be valid. Donatism had its roots in the long-established Christian community of the Roman Africa province (present-day Tunisia, Morocco, the northeast of Algeria, and the western coast of Libya) in the persecutions of Christians under Diocletian. Named after the Berber Christian bishop Donatus Magnus, Donatism flourished during the fourth and fifth centuries.[20]

Muslim conquest

Church of Our Lady of Victory of Tétouan

Archaeological and scholarly research has shown that Christianity existed after the Muslim conquests. The Catholic Church gradually declined along with local Latin dialect.[21][22] Another view however that exists is that Christianity in North Africa effectively ended soon after the conquest of North Africa by the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate between AD 647–709.[23]

Many causes have been seen as leading to the decline of Christianity in Maghreb. One of them is the constant wars and conquests as well as persecutions. In addition, many Christians also migrated to Europe. The Church at that time lacked the backbone of a

Coptic Egypt, which is credited as a factor that allowed the Coptic Church to remain the majority faith in that country until around after the 14th century despite numerous persecutions. In addition, the Romans were unable to completely assimilate the indigenous people like the Berbers.[24][25]

The treatment and

Almohad rule was a drastic change as well.[26] Many Christians were killed, forced to convert, or forced to flee.[26] Some Christians fled to the Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula and helped fuel the Reconquista.[26]

Local Catholicism came under pressure when the Muslim fundamentalist regimes of the

Marrakech

Another phase of Christianity in Maghreb began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century.[32] After the end of Reconquista, the Christian Portuguese and Spanish captured many ports in North Africa.[33]

In June 1225, Pope Honorius III issued the bull

Innocent IV.[35] Innocent IV asked the emirs of Tunis, Ceuta and Bugia to permit Lope and Franciscian friars to look after the Christians in those regions. He thanked Caliph al-Sa'id for granting protection to the Christians and requested to allow them to create fortresses along the shores, but the Caliph rejected that request.[36]

The bishopric of Marrakesh continued to exist until the late 16th century and was borne by the

suffragans of Seville. Juan de Prado had attempted to re-establish the mission but was killed in 1631. Franciscan monasteries continued to exist in the city until the 18th century.[37]

European influence (c. 1912 – 1956)

Moroccan Anglican Christians from Tangier

During the era of the Spanish protectorate and the French protectorate over Morocco, the conditions of the Catholic Church have flourished, and Catholic churches,

Sunday mass festivities were broadcast on radio and television networks.[38]

Prior to independence, Morocco was home to half a million

French Morocco were mostly of French descent, and to a lesser extent of Spanish and Italian ancestry.[38] Some Moroccans of Berber or Arab descent converted to Christianity during the French colonialism.[41] Since independence in 1956, the European population has decreased substantially, and many Catholics left to France or Spain.[38]

Between the last years of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, an estimated 250,000

First World War, European Christians formed almost a quarter the population of Tangier.[43][44] In 1950, Catholics in Spanish protectorate in Morocco and Tangier constitute 14.5% of the population, and the Spanish Morocco was home to 113,000 Catholic settlers.[38] Catholics in Spanish protectorate in Morocco and Tangier were mostly of Spanish descent, and to a lesser extent of Portuguese, French and Italian ancestry.[38]

Independent Morocco (since 1956)

Independence prompted a mass exodus of the European Catholic settlers; after 1956 more than 75% of Catholic settlers left the country.

Greek Orthodox churches.[46] Most Christians reside in the Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh, and Rabat urban areas.[47] The majority of Christians in Morocco are foreigners, although Voice of the Martyrs reports there is a growing number of native Moroccans (45,000) converting to Christianity, especially in the rural areas. Many of the converts are baptized secretly in Morocco's churches.[48] According to 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom; the number of Moroccan Christian citizens reached approximately 31,500, while the Moroccan Association for Human Rights estimates there are approximately 25,000 Moroccan Christian citizens.[49]

Since 1960 a growing number of Moroccan Muslims are converting to Christianity.[12][50][14][51][16] Many Moroccan Christians of Berber or Arab descent mostly converted during the modern era or under and after French colonialism.[41]

Denominations

Catholicism

St. Peter's Cathedral, Rabat

Christianity has had a long presence in Morocco, dating back to the Roman Empire.

Sunday mass festivities were broadcast on radio and television networks.[38]

During the French and Spanish protectorates, Morocco had significant populations of European Catholic settlers: on the eve of independence, an estimated 470,000 Catholics resided in Morocco.[6] Since independence in 1956, the European Catholic population has decreased substantially, and many Catholics left to France or Spain. Prior to independence, the European Catholic settlers had historic legacy and powerful presence.[6] Independence prompted a mass exodus of the European Catholic settlers; after series of events over 1959-1960 more than 75% of Catholic settlers left the country.[6]

Today there are around 30,000

Catholic schools across the country.[6] Catholic-run schools typically use French as language of instructions after primary school.[6]

Protestantism

Anglicanism

Church of Saint Andrew, Tangier

While most areas of Africa (including eastern North Africa) have independent Anglican dioceses and provinces, the western part of North Africa, including the Anglican Church of Morocco, is part of the

Marrakech
, but there is no Anglican Church established here.

The Anglican

Church of Saint Andrew, Tangier has become a tourist attraction, partly due to certain well-known figures buried in its churchyard.[52]
The church is an early twentieth-century replacement for an earlier smaller building, which was built with the express permission of the King of Morocco, on land donated by him.

The Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist, Casablanca, is centrally located, near to the Hyatt Regency hotel in the city centre. It has a well-established congregation, and holds two services every Sunday morning to accommodate all worshippers. There is a catechetical programme for children.[53]

Moroccan Protestants from Tangier.

On 27 March 2010, the Moroccan magazine TelQuel stated that thousands of Moroccans had converted to Christianity. Pointing out the absence of official data, Service de presse Common Ground, cites unspecified sources that stated that about 5,000 Moroccans became Christians between 2005 and 2010.[54] An estimate credits a Christian program by Brother Rachid with involvement in the conversion of many Muslims in North Africa and the Middle East to Christianity, including 150,000 in Morocco.[55]

Since 1960 a growing number of Moroccan Muslims are converting to Christianity.[12][50][14][56][16] Many Moroccan Christians of Berber or Arab descent mostly converted during the modern era or under and after French colonialism.[41]

Eastern Orthodoxy

The Russian Orthodox Church in Rabat

There are three functioning

Greek Orthodox Church in Casablanca and Russian Orthodox Churches in Rabat and Casablanca.[57]

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
  2. ^ "The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ Ancient African Christianity: An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition By David E. Wilhite, page 322
  5. ^ "Office of the President – Bethel University". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2022 - US Department of State
  8. ^ Pew Templeton, 2013
  9. ^ "Christian Converts in Morocco Fear Fatwa Calling for Their Execution".
  10. ^ "'House-Churches' and Silent Masses - The Converted Christians of Morocco Are Praying in Secret - VICE News".
  11. ^ "Christians want marriages recognized in Morocco". reuters. 8 June 2018.
  12. ^ . . In all an estimated 40,000 Moroccans have converted to Christianity
  13. ^ "'House-Churches' and Silent Masses - The Converted Christians of Morocco Are Praying in Secret - VICE News". 23 March 2015. Converted Moroccans - most of them secret worshippers, of whom there are estimated to be anywhere between 5,000 and 40,000 -
  14. ^ a b c "Morocco's 'hidden' Christians to push for religious freedom". AfricanNews. 30 January 2017. There are no official statistics, but leaders say there are about 50,000 Moroccan Christians, most of them from the Protestant Evangelical tradition.
  15. ^ "Morocco 2019 International Religious Freedom Report" (PDF). RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT. 30 January 2019. the Moroccan Association of Human Rights estimates there are 25,000 Christian citizens. One media source reported that while most Christians in the country are foreigners, there are an estimated 8,000 Christian citizens and that "several thousand" citizens have converted, mostly to Protestant churches..
  16. ^ a b c "Morocco's Christian converts emerge from the shadows". Time of Israel. 30 April 2017. Converts to Christianity form a tiny minority of Moroccans. While no official statistics exist, the US State Department estimates their numbers at between 2,000 and 6,000.
  17. ^ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 11: 14. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  18. ^ Open Doors 2023 Watchlist, Retrieved 2023-07-05
  19. OCLC 1139892409.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  20. ^ Cantor, Norman F (1995), The Civilization of the Middle Ages
  21. ^ Der Nahe und Mittlere Osten By Heinz Halm, page 99
  22. ^ Ancient African Christianity: An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition By David E. Wilhite, page 332-334
  23. ^ "Office of the President - Bethel University". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.
  24. ^ Ancient African Christianity: An Introduction to a Unique Context and Tradition By David E. Wilhite, page 336-338
  25. ^ The Disappearance of Christianity from North Africa in the Wake of the Rise of Islam C. J. Speel, II Church History, Vol. 29, No. 4 (December, 1960), pp. 379-397
  26. ^
    S2CID 211665760
    .
  27. .
  28. ^ Phillips, Fr Andrew. "The Last Christians Of North-West Africa: Some Lessons For Orthodox Today".
  29. .
  30. ^ "citing Mohamed Talbi, "Le Christianisme maghrébin", in M. Gervers & R. Bikhazi, Indigenous Christian Communities in Islamic Lands; Toronto, 1990; pp. 344-345".
  31. .
  32. .
  33. ]
  34. .
  35. ., page 103-104
  36. ., page 117-20
  37. .
  38. ^ .
  39. .
  40. ^ from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  41. ^ Spain: Forging an Immigration Policy, Migration Information Source
  42. ^ Pétridés, Sophron (1913), "Tingis", Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XIV, New York: Encyclopedia Press.
  43. ^ "Tangier" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 397–398.
  44. ^ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Morocco" (PDF). U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State. 2 June 2022. p. 3.
  45. ^ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Morocco" (PDF). U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State. 2 June 2022. p. 3.
  46. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2008, U.S Department of State
  47. ^ "Converted Christians in Morocco Need Prayers – Journal Chrétien". 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013.
  48. ^ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Morocco" (PDF). U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State. 2 June 2022. p. 2.
  49. ^ a b "'House-Churches' and Silent Masses —The Converted Christians of Morocco Are Praying in Secret – VICE News". 23 March 2015. Converted Moroccans — most of them secret worshippers, of whom there are estimated to be anywhere between 5,000 and 40,000 —
  50. ^ "MOROCCO2019INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT. 30 January 2019. the Moroccan Association of Human Rights estimates there are 25,000 Christian citizens. One media source reported that while most Christians in the country are foreigners, there are an estimated 8,000 Christian citizens and that "several thousand" citizens have converted, mostly to Protestant churches..
  51. ^ See Tangier tourist website here for details.
  52. ^ Referenced at this website.
  53. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld – Morocco: General situation of Muslims who converted to Christianity, and specifically those who converted to Catholicism; their treatment by Islamists and the authorities, including state protection (2008–2011)".
  54. ^ Osservatorio Internazionale: "La tentazione di Cristo" Archived 5 September 2014 at archive.today April 2010
  55. ^ "MOROCCO2019INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT. 30 January 2019. the Moroccan Association of Human Rights estimates there are 25,000 Christian citizens. One media source reported that while most Christians in the country are foreigners, there are an estimated 8,000 Christian citizens and that "several thousand" citizens have converted, mostly to Protestant churches..
  56. ^ "Православная Церковь в Марокко: Communauté Orthodoxe au Maroc. Ορθόδοξη Κοινότητα Μαρόκου". www.orthodox.ma.

Further reading

  • Baida, Jamaa; Vincent Feroldi; Ibrāhīm Bū Ṭālib (2005). Présence chrétienne au Maroc, XIXe-XXe siècles (in French). Édition & impressions Bouregreg communication. .

External links