Roman Catholicism in Korea
The Catholic Church in Korea is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. It belongs to the Latin (or Roman) Rite of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic hierarchy in Korea has never been divided between South and North, in the same manner as the Catholic hierarchy in Germany was never divided between East and West or in Ireland between the artificially created borders. For example, some parts of the territory of the archdiocese of Seoul are located in North Korea. Nevertheless, since the political division of Korea in 1945, Catholicism has had a different development in North and South.
North Korea
North Korea is officially an atheist state[1][2] and does not have diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Catholic hierarchy has been inactive for decades, with no functioning Catholic churches in the country.
South Korea
About 10% of the population of South Korea are Catholics, with about 1700 parishes and 5000 priests, it is one of the most Catholic countries in Asia.
References
- ↑ World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. Marshall Cavendish. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
North Korea is officially an atheist state in which almost the entire population is nonreligious.
- ↑ The State of Religion Atlas. Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
Atheism continues to be the official position of the governments of China, North Korea and Cuba.
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