Country’s religious regulatory authority expected to consider recognition
before year’s end.
before year’s end.
Bhutan’s history, the Buddhist nation’s government seems ready to grant
much-awaited official recognition and accompanying rights to a miniscule
Christian population that has remained largely underground.
The authority that regulates religious organizations will discuss in its
next meeting – to be held by the end of December – how a Christian organization
can be registered to represent its community, agency secretary Dorji Tshering
told Compass by phone.
next meeting – to be held by the end of December – how a Christian organization
can be registered to represent its community, agency secretary Dorji Tshering
told Compass by phone.
Thus far only Buddhist and Hindu organizations have been registered by the
authority, locally known as Chhoedey Lhentshog. As a result, only these
two communities have the right to openly practice their religion and build
places of worship.
authority, locally known as Chhoedey Lhentshog. As a result, only these
two communities have the right to openly practice their religion and build
places of worship.
Asked if Christians were likely to get the same rights soon, Tshering
replied, “Absolutely” – an apparent paradigm shift in policy given that Bhutan’s
National Assembly had banned open practice of non-Buddhist and non-Hindu
religions by passing resolutions in 1969 and in 1979.
replied, “Absolutely” – an apparent paradigm shift in policy given that Bhutan’s
National Assembly had banned open practice of non-Buddhist and non-Hindu
religions by passing resolutions in 1969 and in 1979.
“The constitution of Bhutan says that Buddhism is the country’s spiritual
heritage, but it also says that his majesty [the king] is the protector of all
religions,” he added, explaining the basis on which the nascent democracy is
willing to accept Christianity as one of the faiths of its citizens.
heritage, but it also says that his majesty [the king] is the protector of all
religions,” he added, explaining the basis on which the nascent democracy is
willing to accept Christianity as one of the faiths of its citizens.
The former king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, envisioned democracy in
the country in 2006 – after the rule of an absolute monarchy for over a century.
The first elections were held in 2008, and since then the government has
gradually given rights that accompany democracy to its people.
the country in 2006 – after the rule of an absolute monarchy for over a century.
The first elections were held in 2008, and since then the government has
gradually given rights that accompany democracy to its people.
The government’s move to legalize Christianity seems to have the consent of
the present king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is respected by almost all
people and communities in the country. In his early thirties, the king studied
in universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Prime Minister
Lyonchen Jigmey Thinley is also believed to have agreed in principle to
recognition of other faiths.
the present king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is respected by almost all
people and communities in the country. In his early thirties, the king studied
in universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Prime Minister
Lyonchen Jigmey Thinley is also believed to have agreed in principle to
recognition of other faiths.
According to source who requested anonymity, the government is likely to
register only one Christian organization and would expect it to represent all
Christians in Bhutan – which would call for Christian unity in the
country.
register only one Christian organization and would expect it to represent all
Christians in Bhutan – which would call for Christian unity in the
country.
All Hindus, who constitute around 22 percent of Bhutan’s less than 700,000
people, are also represented by one legal entity, the Hindu Dharma Samudaya
(Hindu Religion Community) of Bhutan, which was registered with the
Chhoedey Lhentshog authority along with Buddhist organizations a year
ago.
people, are also represented by one legal entity, the Hindu Dharma Samudaya
(Hindu Religion Community) of Bhutan, which was registered with the
Chhoedey Lhentshog authority along with Buddhist organizations a year
ago.
Tshering said the planned discussion at the December meeting is meant to
look at technicalities in the Religious Organizations Act of 2007, which
provides for registration and regulation of religious groups with intent to
protect and promote the country’s spiritual heritage. The government began to
enforce the Act only in November 2009, a year after the advent of
democracy.
look at technicalities in the Religious Organizations Act of 2007, which
provides for registration and regulation of religious groups with intent to
protect and promote the country’s spiritual heritage. The government began to
enforce the Act only in November 2009, a year after the advent of
democracy.
Asked what some of the government’s concerns are over allowing Christianity
in the country, Tshering said “conversion must not be forced, because it causes
social tensions which Bhutan cannot afford to have. However, the constitution
says that no one should be forced to believe in a religion, and that aspect will
be taken care of. We will ensure that no one is forced to convert.”
in the country, Tshering said “conversion must not be forced, because it causes
social tensions which Bhutan cannot afford to have. However, the constitution
says that no one should be forced to believe in a religion, and that aspect will
be taken care of. We will ensure that no one is forced to convert.”
The government’s willingness to recognize Christians is partly aimed at
bringing the community under religious regulation, said the anonymous source.
This is why it is evoking mixed response among the country’s Christians, who
number around 6,000 according to rough estimates.
bringing the community under religious regulation, said the anonymous source.
This is why it is evoking mixed response among the country’s Christians, who
number around 6,000 according to rough estimates.
Last month, a court in south Bhutan sentenced a Christian man to three
years of prison for screening films on Christianity – which was criticized by
Christian organizations around the world. (See www.compassdirect.org, “Christian in
Bhutan Imprisoned for Showing Film on Christ,” Oct. 18.)
years of prison for screening films on Christianity – which was criticized by
Christian organizations around the world. (See www.compassdirect.org, “Christian in
Bhutan Imprisoned for Showing Film on Christ,” Oct. 18.)
The government is in the process of introducing a clause banning
conversions by force or allurement in the country’s penal code.
conversions by force or allurement in the country’s penal code.
Though never colonized, landlocked Bhutan has historically seen its
sovereignty as fragile due to its small size and location between two Asian
giants, India and China. It has sought to protect its sovereignty by preserving
its distinct cultural identity based on Buddhism and by not allowing social
tensions or unrest.
sovereignty as fragile due to its small size and location between two Asian
giants, India and China. It has sought to protect its sovereignty by preserving
its distinct cultural identity based on Buddhism and by not allowing social
tensions or unrest.
In the 1980s, when the king sought to strengthen the nation’s cultural
unity, ethnic Nepalese citizens, who are mainly Hindu and from south Bhutan,
rebelled against it. But a military crackdown forced over 100,000 of them – some
of them secret Christians – to either flee to or voluntarily leave the country
for neighboring Nepal.
unity, ethnic Nepalese citizens, who are mainly Hindu and from south Bhutan,
rebelled against it. But a military crackdown forced over 100,000 of them – some
of them secret Christians – to either flee to or voluntarily leave the country
for neighboring Nepal.
Tshering said that while some individual Christians had approached the
authority with queries, no organization had formally filed papers for
registration.
authority with queries, no organization had formally filed papers for
registration.
After the December meeting, if members of the regulatory authority feel
that Chhoedey Lhentshog’s mandate does not include
registering a Christian organization, Christians will then be registered by
another authority, the source said.
that Chhoedey Lhentshog’s mandate does not include
registering a Christian organization, Christians will then be registered by
another authority, the source said.
After official recognition, Christians would require permission from local
authorities to hold public meetings. Receiving foreign aid or inviting foreign
speakers would be subject to special permission from the home ministry, added
the source.
authorities to hold public meetings. Receiving foreign aid or inviting foreign
speakers would be subject to special permission from the home ministry, added
the source.
Bhutan’s first contact with Christians came in the 17th century when Guru Rimpoche, a
Buddhist leader and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state, hosted the first
two foreigners, who were Jesuits. Much later, Catholics were invited to provide
education in Bhutan; the Jesuits came to Bhutan in 1963 and the Salesians in
1982 to run schools. The Salesians, however, were expelled in 1982 on
accusations of proselytizing, and the Jesuits left the country in 1988.
Buddhist leader and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state, hosted the first
two foreigners, who were Jesuits. Much later, Catholics were invited to provide
education in Bhutan; the Jesuits came to Bhutan in 1963 and the Salesians in
1982 to run schools. The Salesians, however, were expelled in 1982 on
accusations of proselytizing, and the Jesuits left the country in 1988.
“As Bhutanese capacities (scholarly, administrative and otherwise)
increased, the need for active Jesuit involvement in the educational system
declined, ending in 1988, when the umbrella agreement between the Jesuit order
and the kingdom expired and the administration of all remaining Jesuit
institutions was turned over to the government,” writes David M. Malone,
Canada’s high commissioner to India and ambassador to Bhutan, in the March 2008
edition of Literary Review of Canada.
increased, the need for active Jesuit involvement in the educational system
declined, ending in 1988, when the umbrella agreement between the Jesuit order
and the kingdom expired and the administration of all remaining Jesuit
institutions was turned over to the government,” writes David M. Malone,
Canada’s high commissioner to India and ambassador to Bhutan, in the March 2008
edition of Literary Review of Canada.
After a Christian organization is registered, Christian institutions may
also be allowed once again in the country, given the government’s stress on
educating young Bhutanese.
also be allowed once again in the country, given the government’s stress on
educating young Bhutanese.
A local Christian requesting anonymity said the community respects Bhutan’s
political and religious leaders, especially the king and the prime minister,
will help preserve the country’s unique culture and seeks to contribute to the
building of the nation.
political and religious leaders, especially the king and the prime minister,
will help preserve the country’s unique culture and seeks to contribute to the
building of the nation.
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
