Karel Martinus Choennie (born 20 December 1958) is a Surinamese Roman Catholic bishop. As of 2016, he is the current Bishop of Paramaribo. He is the first bishop in Suriname of Indian descent.[1]
Karel Choennie | |
|---|---|
.png) Choennie (2018) | |
| Church | Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral |
| Archdiocese | Port of Spain |
| Diocese | Paramaribo |
| Appointed | 11 November 2015 |
| Predecessor | Wilhelmus de Bekker |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 3 August 1985 |
| Consecration | 24 January 2016 by Wilhelmus de Bekker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karel Martinus Choennie 20 December 1958 |
| Nationality | Suriname |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Motto | Diliges dominum et proximum |
| Coat of arms |  |
Biography edit
Choennie was born on 20 December 1958. In 1976, he left for the Netherlands to study pedagogy at Radboud University Nijmegen, and obtained his bachelor's degree in 1978.[2] Next, he went to the monastery of Mount Saint Benedict in Trinidad and Tobago,[3] and graduated in theology at the University of the West Indies in 1984. On 3 August 1985, he was ordained priest.[2][4] In 1996, he studied pastoral theology at KU Leuven, and graduated in 1998.[2]
On 11 November 2015, Choennie was appointed Bishop of Paramaribo,[5] and consecrated on 24 January 2016 by Wilhelmus de Bekker.[6]
Positions edit
During the military dictatorship, Choennie was a vocal critic of the human rights violations which had occurred. When he criticized the amnesty for December Murders, he was labelled enemy of the people by President Desi Bouterse.[3]
In 2019, Choennie was one of the bishops who voted for the inclusion of married and female priests during the Amazon synod.[7][8] Pope Francis later rejected the conclusions of the synod.[9]
Choennie has expressed his concerns about climate change, and called for a radical change in the production and consumption culture.[10]
References edit
- ^ "Bisschop van Paramaribo luidt 1e Kerstdag Suriname in". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Curriculum Vitae Mgr. Karel Choennie". Bisdom Paramaribo (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Surinamer wordt tiende RK bisschop van Paramaribo". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Kerk en Wereld". Amigoe (in Dutch). 30 August 1985.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 11.11.2015". Press Office of the Holy See (in Italian). 11 November 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Bishop of Paramaribo, Suriname, Antilles". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Ik denk dat de priesterwijding van vrouwen onontkoombaar is". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Amazonas-Synode stimmt für verheiratete Priester in Ausnahmefällen". Katholisch.de (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION QUERIDA AMAZONIA". Press Office of the Holy See. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Opwarming aarde rode draad in nieuwjaarsboodschappen". Star Nieuws. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
External links edit
