Crypto-Catholics in Kosovo

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Muzhik

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Shalom, all! While Islam may be the fastest growing religion in the West, it’s losing far more adherents to Christianity in many Islamic countries. Here’s an article that may explain another facet of this phenomenon – crypto-Catholics:

Out of hiding, some Kosovars embrace Christianity

Families that have been hidden Catholics for centuries are coming out into the open.
The Islamic community disapproves of such converts.
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The head of the Kosovo Islamic community, Mufti Naim Ternava, has opposed building a cathedral at the heart of Pristina and scoffs at new churches built across Kosovo.
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“No human brain can understand how a church should be build in the middle of 13 Muslim villages,” he said.
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No human brain, indeed…

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I served with the NATO KFOR mission from SEP 05-JUN 07. I was part of the Civil Affairs (CIMIC) team for the US Army @ Camp Bondsteel outside of Urosevac.

Leaving the debate aside on, if we should have been there or if we sided with the right group- I worked heavily with the minority Christian communities in Kosovo, be they Catholic ethnic - Albanians or Orthodox Serbs.

This particular church is “Our Lady of Good Counsel” in Klina in the western half of the province. I will post pictures later tonight - I am at work- but through my efforts and lobbying the Archdiocese of Newark donated 10,000 USD to the effort of the Church. I also arranged for 3 large bells that were donated from an Austrian Catholic Church to be lifted by our German allies who had heavy engineering equipment there. The 10,000 USD went to gutters, installing the bells, lighting, and classrooms in the basement of the Church for catechism

The Priest I worked with at that Parish Fr. Frane Sopi has since been moved to Prizren, the seat of the Catholic Bishop.

I am so so happy that this is getting exposure. If any Catholics wish to contribute time or money to the Catholic relief services in Kosovo I can put you all in touch with a man name Jakup Sabedini who runs the Caritas offices in Kosovo.

Regards,

Anthony

(SGT Anthony Pelliccio US Army 353rd Civil Affairs Command)
 
Part two of Photos.

As I said before If anyone wants to donate to a great cause I can put you all in touch with the catholic relief services on the ground their making a difference.
 
Awesome!

Is anything changing now that the US and many other Western nations have recognized Kosovo as independent? Or is this happening because of the recognition?
 
This is true! All Albanians during ottoman empire were hidden catholics.They never accept islam
 
A phenomenon of “crypto-Catholicism” developed in Kosovo Albanian society, where large numbers of people would convert officially to Islam but follow Catholic rites in private. From 1703 ecclesiastical decrees banned this practice and did not accept that crypto-Catholics could receive holy rites. In 1717, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the British Ambassador to the Sublime Porte wrote that her Albanian escort from Belgrade to Istanbul claimed to go to the mosque on Fridays and church on Sundays. Albanians in Kosovo who had been passing as Muslims were declaring themselves Catholics (to avoid conscription) as late as 1845.
 
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