Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic

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The Catholic Church in Dominican Republic is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.

The Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian Church, and its largest religious grouping. There are an estimated 7.6 million baptised Catholics in the Dominican Republic, (89% of the population), in 11 territorial dioceses and one military ordinariate, served by 800 priests.

Within the Dominican Republic the hierarchy consists of:

Archbishopric Bishopric

• Santiago de los Caballeros
  • La Vega
  • Mao-Monte Cristi
  • Puerto Plata
  • San Francisco de Macorís
• Santo Domingo
  • Baní
  • Barahona
  • Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey
  • San Juan de la Maguana
  • San Pedro de Macorís

[edit] Church in society

The Dominican Republic offers religious freedom, but the Catholic Church still enjoys certain favors, in particular due to a 1954 concordat with the Vatican.^[1] Use of public funds for Church needs and low customs duties on Church goods are two favors given to the Catholic Church by the government. Catholic marriage ceremonies are the only religious marriage ceremonies that are recognized by the state, but legal marriages are also available.

Under Rafael Trujillo's government, the power of the Catholic Church was limited. Although the Church remained apolitical during much of the Trujillo era, a 1960 pastoral letter of protest against mass arrests of government opponents seriously strained the relationship with the government.^[2] The papal nuncio’s attempts to administer humanitarian aid during the 1965 civil war were hampered and the struggle intensified. The bishops continued to issue statements of protest against human rights violations and poor living standards for the population throughout the 1970s and the 1980s.^[2]

Afro-Caribbean creole religions, most notably Vodou from neighboring Haiti has become a part of the culture as well. Its links with traditional Catholicism are clear, but there is also a belief in "magic."

[edit] References and notes

1. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2005: Dominican Republic. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} Wilson, Lamar C. and Patricia Kluck (1989). "Religion". Chapter 2 - Dominican Republic: The Society and Its Environment. In A Country Study: Dominican Republic. Library of Congress (Call Number F1934.D64 2001). Retrieved 17 January 2007.

• Dominican Republic-International Religious Freedom Report 2005, U.S. Department of State. November 8, 2005. Retrieved July 13, 2006.