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Apostolic Vicariate Of Phnom Penh




The ''' Church in Cambodia .

The prefecture covers an area of 31,946 km&2 of southern Cambodia, covering the cities Phnom Penh , Kep and Sihanoukville , as well as the provinces Kandal , Takéo , Kampot , Kampong Speu and Koh Kong . As of 2002, of the 4.4 million citizen 13,250 are member of the Catholic church. The vicariate is subdivided into 4 Parish es, and has 17 priests altogether.


HISTORY

The Vicariate Apostolic of Cambogia was erected on August 30 1850 , which since 1860 was responsible for the provinces Phsardec , Chaudoc and Sroctrang of lower Cambodia. In 1924 it was renamed to Vicariate Apostolic of Phnom-Penh. On September 20, 1955, the vicariate became responsible for complete Cambodia. In 1968 the vicariate was split into three parts, with the Apostolic Prefecture Of Battambang responsible for the northwest and the Apostolic Prefecture Of Kompong Cham for the northeast.

During the rule of the Khmer Rouge all religious activities were forbidden, and many Catholics were persecuted, especially priests and other ordinaries. Also the Vietnamese Catholics, the majority of Catholics in Cambodia, were expelled from the country. Most of the churches were also destroyed. The number of Catholics in the area of the vicariate fell from about 30,000 to less then 10,000. In 1990 the new constitution of Cambodia allowed free worship again.


BISHOPS



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