Religious Freedom
Catholics free to worship in Kuwait, says bishop
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Venice, Italy, Jun 22, 2007 / 11:17 am (CNA).- The Catholic Church in Kuwait "enjoys freedom of worship and suffers no restriction whatsoever," says Bishop Camillo Ballin, vicar apostolic of Kuwait.

The 63-year-old bishop and Comboni missionary spoke with AKI while attending an international gathering of Catholic clerics and researchers in Venice. Participants came from 18 countries, 11 of them majority Muslim.

Bishop Ballin said the crucifix can be exposed in churches without a problem, and he is free to wear his episcopal robe and cross without anyone looking at him strangely.

"Although Islamic extremists have different and adverse positions, there is no exterior sign to indicate it," he said about Kuwait.

Kuwait is home to approximately 150,000 Catholics in a mainly Muslim population of more than 2.5 million. The Kuwaiti Constitution provides for freedom of religion, but the government is reported to periodically send inspectors around to ensure that no religious teaching other than Islam is being done in both public and private schools.

Relations with the Kuwaiti government are good, he said: "The local government fully meets our demands and is extremely generous. It offers us places of worship and all the necessary help in bureaucratic and official procedures."

For example, he said, when there are major feast days, such as Christmas and Easter, authorities send security forces to protect the community attending Mass.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: AUSTIN PEREIRA
INDIA 11/05/2008 08:19 AM EST
I DONT FEEL ANY RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS AT KUWAIT.IF I HAVE INTEREST,I CAN DO MY RELIGIOUS DUTY WITH THE FULLNESS OF HOLY SPIRIT AS WELL AS INDIA.IT IS ALSO VERY GOOD IF YOU ARE INTEREST TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONFESSION ONES OWN REGIONAL LANGUAGE.
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Published by: Arthur
Johannesburg 06/25/2007 03:10 AM EST
This is indeed the case. My brother has just returned from a teachng stint in Kuwait and attests to the very active Mass attendance by Indians, Filipinos and others. One church has up to 8 masses on a Sunday, and almost all are filled to overflowing. Churches may not show any religious symbols (such as a cross) on the outside, but inside there is freedom of worship. Sundays are of course normal working days.
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Published by: jennifer
mumbai 06/25/2007 03:07 AM EST
This is just such a wonderful blessing, that the Catholic Church is free and the congregation can worship without fearfully looking over their shoulder. How the Lord is blessing those who keep His commandments, Praise His Holy Name.
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Published by: Michael
UK 06/22/2007 12:23 PM EST
I worked in Kuwait in the 1980s and a church existed at that time.
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