Eritrean Catholic Church

[twf]

Apparently there is now an Eritrean Catholic Church sui iuris of Metropolia rank. A thread was created on the Catholic News board, but as most of my brother Latins don’t even register the fact that the Catholic Church is a communion of sister Churches, the creation of a new such sister Church sadly generates very little general interest…so I thought it would be a better idea of start a thread here. Does anyone have any more background? Did the council of hierarchs of the Ethiopian Catholic Church request this split?

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23765

 

[AnthonyJ]

Thank you for posting this. I have no information about the split, but it is interesting news. Pope Francis has been concentrating a lot on the Eastern Catholic Churches lately. I wonder if he will soon make it official that the UGCC is a patriarchal Church. It would also be great if the Exarchate of the Russian Catholic Church, which has been without an Exarch for many decades, was appointed one.

Apparently there is now an Eritrean Catholic Church sui iuris of Metropolia rank. A thread was created on the Catholic News board, but as most of my brother Latins don’t even register the fact that the Catholic Church is a communion of sister Churches, the creation of a new such sister Church sadly generates very little general interest…so I thought it would be a better idea of start a thread here. Does anyone have any more background? Did the council of hierarchs of the Ethiopian Catholic Church request this split?

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23765

 

[choliks]

I’m a Latin rite, and I have a great interest in this piece of news. The growth of the Eastern Churches has been in my prayers for so long.

Could this be part of “going to the peripheries” marching orders from Pope Francis?

 

[Vico]

Apparently there is now an Eritrean Catholic Church sui iuris of Metropolia rank. A thread was created on the Catholic News board, but as most of my brother Latins don’t even register the fact that the Catholic Church is a communion of sister Churches, the creation of a new such sister Church sadly generates very little general interest…so I thought it would be a better idea of start a thread here. Does anyone have any more background? Did the council of hierarchs of the Ethiopian Catholic Church request this split?

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23765

After Eritrea achieved independence on May 24, 1993, about half the faithful of the Ethiopian Catholic Church found themselves within that new country. The promotion to Ethiopian Metropolitan Catholic Church occurred in 1999. So finally in 2015 there is a Eritrean Metropolitan Catholic Church split from the Ethiopian Metropolitan Catholic Church.

• Archeparchy of Asmara (est. 1961 Ethiopian, promoted 2015 Eritrean)
• The Eparchy of Barentu (est. 1995 )
• The Eparchy of Keren (est. 1995)
• The Eparchy of Segheneity (est. 2012)

 

[twf]

After Eritrea achieved independence on May 24, 1993, about half the faithful of the Ethiopian Catholic Church found themselves within that new country. The promotion to Ethiopian Metropolitan Catholic Church occurred in 1999. So finally in 2015 there is a Eritrean Metropolitan Catholic Church split from the Ethiopian Metropolitan Catholic Church.

• Archeparchy of Asmara (est. 1961 Ethiopian, promoted 2015 Eritrean)
• The Eparchy of Barentu (est. 1995 )
• The Eparchy of Keren (est. 1995)
• The Eparchy of Segheneity (est. 2012)

Thanks, but was this something requested by the Ethiopian hierarchy?

 

[Vico]

Thanks, but was this something requested by the Ethiopian hierarchy?

I don’t know. Those types of decisions are made with the combined eastern hierarchs in the Congregation of Eastern Churches when there are political matters of jurisdiction to be considered. Vatican Radio states that “The two countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea have not yet resolved their differences and hostilities continue.”

 

[Peter_J]

…so I thought it would be a better idea of start a thread here. Does anyone have any more background?

Yes that’s a good idea. As a matter of fact, only two humans, including myself, have posted on the other thread.

 

[Nestor_kea]

Less than two weaks ago there was an Ethiopian Catholic thread (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=934676) and now we have the Eritrean one. If they had waited for just a month, the new Ethiopian cardinal-announced would have been starting with a bigger portfolio.

If you can read in Italian, see this press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/de/bollettino/pubblico/2015/01/19/0048/00098.html. Otherwise here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Catholic_Church you can find:

In January 2015 Pope Francis established the Eritrean Catholic Church as an autonomous sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church, thus separating it from the Ethiopian Catholic Church.

And of course, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean_Catholic_Church. You can get it confirmed also on catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/qviewa.html and catholic-hierarchy.org/rite/berqv.html.

By the way, Eritrea is probably the only country (with Catholic hierarchy) in the world where there is no Latin hierarchy and so Roman Catholics in the whole territory of the state are put into care of eastern bishops.

 

[Peter_J]

By the way, Eritrea is probably the only country (with Catholic hierarchy) in the world where there is no Latin hierarchy and so Roman Catholics in the whole territory of the state are put into care of eastern bishops.

Right.

 

[Seraphim73]

I’m a little confused. Here on CAF I’ve been told countless times that the Catholic Church, as opposed to the Orthodox Church, is not organized along national lines. I’m told that’s one of the reasons the Catholic Church is obviously the true Church, that it is not organized along ethnic lines. And here we see the Pope creating a Church for the nation of Eritrea. Strange days.

 

[Elizium23]

I’m a little confused. Here on CAF I’ve been told countless times that the Catholic Church, as opposed to the Orthodox Church, is not organized along national lines. I’m told that’s one of the reasons the Catholic Church is obviously the true Church, that it is not organized along ethnic lines. And here we see the Pope creating a Church for the nation of Eritrea. Strange days.

There’s a bit of a dichotomy. The Latin Church has a universal outlook and much inculturation happens there. Due to the extensive and successful evangelization by the West, the Latin Church exists everywhere. When it comes to the Eastern Catholic Churches, their history is in parallel with their counterpart Orthodox Churches. For the most part, each one was created when the corresponding Orthodox Church came into communion with Rome. And, today we still treat Orthodox Christians converting to the Catholic Church as belonging to that same counterpart. So there is a lot of history behind this.

The truth is that a lot of Eastern Catholic Churches have thrived more in the diaspora than the traditional countries of origin. You see this especially in the Ruthenian Church, which is actually known as the “Byzantine Catholic Church” in the USA. Their primary governance and structres are located here, rather than in the Slavic countries from which they originate. They have been very successful in being pan-cultural and appealing to people of all ethnicities who wish to celebrate in the Byzantine Rite but don’t want an insular Church of xenophobic, ethnic members afraid to welcome converts.

And I think this is an endemic problem with Orthodox Churches. I mean, I recently attended SerbFest at the local Serbian Orthodox parish. Well, it was exciting and friendly and welcoming, but I got a different impression when I looked them up on the Internet. A “mystery worshipper” from the site Ship of Fools had attended Divine Liturgy, and felt rather outcast, as she did not speak Serbian, and was snubbed and ignored by all the “regular” parishioners there. I think this is a key problem for any Church, not just ethnic ones, but the language and cultural barriers presented in ethnically-centered Churches do present a significant barrier to evangelization.

 

[Vico]

I’m a little confused. Here on CAF I’ve been told countless times that the Catholic Church, as opposed to the Orthodox Church, is not organized along national lines. I’m told that’s one of the reasons the Catholic Church is obviously the true Church, that it is not organized along ethnic lines. And here we see the Pope creating a Church for the nation of Eritrea. Strange days.

Since the borders are changing the jurisdictions have followed. This has been true for a long time. For example:

Marca Union 1611 (Holy Roman Empire) - Serbians living in Hungarian-controlled Croatia, and Union of Uzhorod (Hungary) 1646 led to five Byzantine sui iuris Churches:

Marca

1. Križevci Greek Catholic Church (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro)
   – Marca renamed Gornji Tkalec (1777), renamed Eparchy of Križevci (1801)
   – Exarchy of Serbia and Montenegro (2003) from Križevci
2. Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
   – Exarchy (1918, 2001)

Mukacheve

1. Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church
   – Mukacheve (1777)
   – Byzantine Metropolitan See of Pittsburgh (1969, renamed from Munhall est 1963), with the suffragan Eparchies of Passaic (1963), Parma (1969) and Van Nuys, renamed Holy Protection of Mary (Phoenix) (1981).
   – Exarchy of Czech Republic (1996) from Prešov
2. Slovak Greek Catholic Church
   – Prešov (1818) from Mukacheve
   – Czech Republic (1996) from Prešov
   – Košice (1997) from Prešov
3. Hungarian Greek Catholic Church (originally cared for by Mukacheve)
   – Hajdudorog (1912)
   – Exarchy of Miskolc (1924)

 

[Peter_J]

I’m a little confused. Here on CAF I’ve been told countless times that the Catholic Church, as opposed to the Orthodox Church, is not organized along national lines.

Good point. I’m afraid I sometimes forget that a thing becomes true if it is stated on the CA Forum.

Blame it on old age.

 

[twf]

I’m a little confused. Here on CAF I’ve been told countless times that the Catholic Church, as opposed to the Orthodox Church, is not organized along national lines. I’m told that’s one of the reasons the Catholic Church is obviously the true Church, that it is not organized along ethnic lines. And here we see the Pope creating a Church for the nation of Eritrea. Strange days.

Frankly, most Catholics, even on this forum, are thinking strictly of the Latin Church when they make this argument. The Latin Church has definitely become a pan-cultural, universal Church…its pretty hard to find a place in the world where it doesn’t exist (though there are a couple exceptions). Sadly, many Latin Catholics don’t even give their Eastern Catholic brothers a second thought…you have to cut them some slack as there are a billion Latins and maybe 20 million Eastern Catholics (of all jurisdictions).

 

[Seraphim73]

Yeah I was just having a little fun and being a bit of a smart alec. My apologies.

 

[Peter_J]

Since the borders are changing the jurisdictions have followed. This has been true for a long time. For example:

Marca Union 1611 (Holy Roman Empire) - Serbians living in Hungarian-controlled Croatia, and Union of Uzhorod (Hungary) 1646 led to five Byzantine sui iuris Churches:

Marca

1. Križevci Greek Catholic Church (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro)
   – Marca renamed Gornji Tkalec (1777), renamed Eparchy of Križevci (1801)
   – Exarchy of Serbia and Montenegro (2003) from Križevci
2. Macedonian Greek Catholic Church
   – Exarchy (1918, 2001)

Mukacheve

1. Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church
   – Mukacheve (1777)
   – Byzantine Metropolitan See of Pittsburgh (1969, renamed from Munhall est 1963), with the suffragan Eparchies of Passaic (1963), Parma (1969) and Van Nuys, renamed Holy Protection of Mary (Phoenix) (1981).
   – Exarchy of Czech Republic (1996) from Prešov
2. Slovak Greek Catholic Church
   – Prešov (1818) from Mukacheve
   – Czech Republic (1996) from Prešov
   – Košice (1997) from Prešov
3. Hungarian Greek Catholic Church (originally cared for by Mukacheve)
   – Hajdudorog (1912)
   – Exarchy of Miskolc (1924)

I have little to add to that, word-wise, but if a picture is worth … well, you know. I think this map gives a pretty good idea of the geography:

maps.google.com/maps?q=Cluj-Gherla+to:Maramures+to:Mukacheve+toresov+to:Kosice+to:Miskolc+to:Oradea+to:Vojvodina+to:Lugoj+to:Alba+Julia+to:Fagaras&saddr=Cluj-Gherla&daddr=Maramures+to:Mukacheve+toresov+to:Kosice+to:Miskolc+to:Oradea+to:Vojvodina+to:Lugoj+to:Alba+Julia+to:Fagaras&hl=en&sll=47.254732,22.515834&sspn=6.106982,9.876709&geocode=FeB3zQIdYK9sASnLXrpgp71JRzHR8J64U3vxEg;FaBx1wIdXFRqASk3byC0cNw3RzHGHTp5Vzvn4w;FdBJ4wIdMCNbASk_jPq6eKw5RzGqwpKn1QDaAg;FRKm6wIdNxdEASlNA-DLZO0-RzGgVZfG0fcABA;FW1s5wIdSF5EASl7lcZnG-A-RzHQi5fG0fcABA;FWvk3QIdEs88ASnn63KNh55ARzGwER4MKcQABA;Fd5DzgIdV31OASlTI3Zo40dGRzFEU13WhqRVGw;FWVUtgIdZPMxASnBpxVfzGZDRzGPYmglxEwLdw;FV8duQIdDC1OASlRJElWvb5PRzGk9TY91x0W6Q;FQDtvgIdUKZnASl1SHXODKhORzEFzUWOTvSw6Q;FfKIuwIdVxN9ASldNixSeqFMRzFUnAQDPOj7MQ&t=m&z=7&output=classic&dg=feature

 

[Vico]

I have little to add to that, word-wise, but if a picture is worth … well, you know. I think this map gives a pretty good idea of the geography:

maps.google.com/maps?q=Cluj-Gherla+to:Maramures+to:Mukacheve+toresov+to:Kosice+to:Miskolc+to:Oradea+to:Vojvodina+to:Lugoj+to:Alba+Julia+to:Fagaras&saddr=Cluj-Gherla&daddr=Maramures+to:Mukacheve+toresov+to:Kosice+to:Miskolc+to:Oradea+to:Vojvodina+to:Lugoj+to:Alba+Julia+to:Fagaras&hl=en&sll=47.254732,22.515834&sspn=6.106982,9.876709&geocode=FeB3zQIdYK9sASnLXrpgp71JRzHR8J64U3vxEg;FaBx1wIdXFRqASk3byC0cNw3RzHGHTp5Vzvn4w;FdBJ4wIdMCNbASk_jPq6eKw5RzGqwpKn1QDaAg;FRKm6wIdNxdEASlNA-DLZO0-RzGgVZfG0fcABA;FW1s5wIdSF5EASl7lcZnG-A-RzHQi5fG0fcABA;FWvk3QIdEs88ASnn63KNh55ARzGwER4MKcQABA;Fd5DzgIdV31OASlTI3Zo40dGRzFEU13WhqRVGw;FWVUtgIdZPMxASnBpxVfzGZDRzGPYmglxEwLdw;FV8duQIdDC1OASlRJElWvb5PRzGk9TY91x0W6Q;FQDtvgIdUKZnASl1SHXODKhORzEFzUWOTvSw6Q;FfKIuwIdVxN9ASldNixSeqFMRzFUnAQDPOj7MQ&t=m&z=7&output=classic&dg=feature

Also 300 km west of Novi Sad is Zagreb which is near Marča (Vrbovec) - Ivanić Grad, Croatia.

 

[Peter_J]

Also 300 km west of Novi Sad is Zagreb which is near Marča (Vrbovec) - Ivanić Grad, Croatia.

Yeah, it’s not completely comprehensive. Prague and Macedonia are also missing.

 

[shawnbm]

Yes that’s a good idea. As a matter of fact, only two humans, including myself, have posted on the other thread.

Yes, you, me, and another saw and commented on this. I am very pleased by this and happy for the people of Eritrea.

 

[Vico]

Yeah, it’s not completely comprehensive. Prague and Macedonia are also missing.

In that list is:

**Marca

*Macedonian:
– Exarchy (1918, 2001)

***Mukacheve

**Ruthenian (Prague):
– Exarchy of Czech Republic (1996) from Prešov