Biography of bishop narayan sharma
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For Kathmandu bishop, a country that welcomes Christ is a fairer country
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - A country that welcomes and respects Jesus "gains dignity and respect on the international stage because it shows respect for the values of democracy. Spirituality and religion are aspects that improve the national status," said Mgr Paul Simick, apostolic vicar to Nepal as he ended his address at an ecumenical celebration held in Kathmandu on Christmas Day.
Along with the prelate, the event saw the presence of representatives from government and civil society groups, as well as leaders of other Christian denominations and thousands of ordinary Nepalis, Christians and Hindus.
In his address, Mgr Simick noted the rising gap between rich and poor in Nepal and around the world. "Christ was born for everyone, and his uppdrag was also to limit the differences among human beings, who are brothers," he said. "Likewise, we must reject violence, discrimination and terrorism around the world.
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Convicted in Bhutan, Christian gets Protestant bishop support
Kathmandu (AsiaNews/Agencies) – “This is the picture of Bhutanese suppression against religious freedom,” said Rev Narayan Sharma, Protestant bishop of Nepal. “We should condemn such undemocratic practices wherever they are,” he added. He was speaking about the case involving Prem Singh Gurung, an ethnic Bhutanese-Nepali Christian, who was sentenced to three years in prison for screening a movie about Christianity. “Bhutan,” the bishop said, “should at least maintain basic democratic freedoms and human rights.”
In 2006, Bhutan formally began a shift towards a democracy after centuries of absolute monarchy that banned all religions other than Buddhism and rejected all ethnic groups other than the Bhutanese.
The new constitution adopted in 2008 recognises freedom of religion for all Bhutanese, as long as the appropriate authorities are informed. Proselytising is outla
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Christianity in Nepal
Christianity is, according to the 2021 census, the fifth most practiced religion in Nepal, with 512,313 adherents or 1.8%,[1] up from 2011 when there were 375,699 adherents or 1.4% of the population.[2] Many[3] informed observers have estimated that there are at least 1 million Nepali Christians.[4] According to some Christian groups, there may be as many as 3 million Christians in Nepal, constituting up to 10% of the country's population.[5] A report by Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary identified the Nepali church the fastest growing in the world.[6] The vast majority of Nepali Christians are evangelicalProtestants (if evangelical is defined broadly to include charismatics and Pentecostals);[7] there is also a small Catholic population of roughly 10,000.[8]
The first Christian mission to Nepal was established in 1715 by Catholic Capuchin friars,[9] who worked in