Universal Church of God
The Universal Church of God is a religious organization found throughout Imperial space, most notably in Dagudashaag Sector.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
It is a breakaway sect of Terran Roman Catholicism. After the Vatican V Council failed to agree on the status of genetically altered races, several Cardinals declared the then Pope, Joan-Paul II, an anti-pope and fled to the stars in order to re-establish the See of Peter on 'unpolluted' ground.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Legend has it that the Dominican Friar Kendric Melatino of Bolivar managed to re-establish communication between various colonies during the Long Night. Using his fellow Dominicans to rid the colonies of 'heresy', he re-elected Cardinals and called a Council to elect a Pope. Friar Melatino was quite unsurprisingly elected as Pope Innocent XV. His first act was to excommunicate Pope Joan-Paul II and all subsequent successors.
Since that time the Church has amassed a great following in the spinward regions of Dagudashaag, in some parts aided by political treaties both with the Ushran Empire and later with Makhidkarun during the Pacification Campaigns, which placed entire worlds into their control. The Universal Church is extremely fundamentalist in its teachings and protects its doctrine with an iron hand and the threat of a visit from its ever-present House of Inquisition.
The church is currently governed by Arch-Pope Benedict XVIII who claims descent from the St. Peter through the Terran catholic Popes. His Most Holy College of Arch-Cardinals assists him in his task.
Demographics[edit]
Universalism is the state religion of the Amec Trade Protectorate.
The Ziadd Dominican is a notable variant sect of the church, which has been embraced by many members of the local Ziadd race.
Timeline[edit]
- -692: During a period of expansion by the Ushran Empire, missionaries from the Universal Church of God arrive on Fau to convert the colonists.
- -672: The Ushrans pull out of Fau, after massacring the locals.
- -691: The small Universalist community on Ufesk is slaughtered, apparently by Ziadd pirates. It is likely an act of retaliation for the destruction on Fau the previous year.
- c.- 400: The Universal Church sends several ecclesiastical fleets to the Zeda Cluster and Shallows Subsector.
- 604 to 622: The Imperial Civil War. Taking advantage of the general disorder, on Oewni local Lancians and Ziadd rebel against the repressive rule of the Universal Church.
- 636: On Kinhe, a new government passes a law declaring all religions other than Universalism illegal. The local people rebel, but are swiftly and ruthlessly dealt with by the Amec military.
- Religious freedom, one of the basic tenets of the fledgling Protectorate state, is now forgotten.
- 855: The Ba'Menelik people are targeted by the Universalist church for a forced conversion.
- 895: On Eddum, the disastrous Time of Cleansing. A medium-sized meteor strikes Exaar (Eddum's only moon). The impact causes a slight fluctuation in orbit which in turn causes Eddum to suffer a minor tilt in its planetary axis. Volcanic upheaval all but destroys the planetary civilization.
- Given the situation, the Tlatoani agrees that the Ba'Menelik should have religious freedom, provided that they remain in isolation to prevent their beliefs "contaminating" the faith of the rest of the Amec people.
- 1103: On Akish, the "Holy Innocents", an extremist splinter group of the Ziadd Dominican branch, takes control of the state of Zordin and dramatically enlarges their following.
Known Popes[edit]
Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)[edit]
During the Rule of Man several Universalist colonies were established throughout Dagudashaag; primarily in Bolivar, Zeda and Shallows subsectors.
World Listing: 1116[edit]
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References & Contributors[edit]
- Jae Campbell. Signal-GK 09 (Signal-GK, 1994), . via HIWG
- Jae Campbell. Encyclopaedia Dagudashaag (Signal-GK, 2017), 349.