Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan (Japanese: カトリック中央協議会, Hepburn: Katorikku Chūo Kyōgikai), also abbreviated as the CBCJ, is the Catholic episcopal conference of Japan, representing predominantly the members of the Latin Japanese Catholic Church. It was founded as the Nippon Tenshu Kokyo Kyodan (The Japanese Catholic Religious Body). After the implementation and execution of the Religious Corporations Act, the body was renamed the CBCJ, becoming a religious corporation as classified under Japanese law.
カトリック中央協議会 | |
| Abbreviation | CBCJ |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1940 |
| Type | Episcopal conference, Non-governmental organisation |
| Legal status | Religious corporation |
| Headquarters | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan |
Region | Japan |
Membership | Active and retired Catholic bishops of Japan (diocesan, auxiliary, coadjutor, honorary) |
President | Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo |
Vice-President | Masahiro Umemura |
Main organ | Standing Committee |
Parent organization | Catholic Church |
| Subsidiaries | Japan Catholic News (Katorikku Shimbun) |
| Website | https://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/ |
Formerly called | Nippon Tenshu Kokyo Kyodan (Japanese Catholic Religious Body) |
As specified in Canons 447 - 459 of the Code of Canon Law, the main purpose of the organisation is to deliberate on matters concerning the Japanese Catholic Church and to encourage active practice of the Catholic faith and ministries.
The head office of the corporation is located in Kōtō, Tokyo.