Vatican Issues Condemnation of China's 'Hostile Acts' against Catholic Church

By Deacon Keith Fournier
12/20/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Are we sacrificing our fundamental obligation to defend human freedom and human rights because we depend on the economic assistance of a repressive regime?

We urge our readers around the globe to pray for the persecuted Church in China and raise a loud cry against the failure of Western governments, including the current administration in the United States, to stand up against the egregious violation of the Right to Religious Freedom in mainland China. It is time for Catholic Action.

We urge our readers around the globe to fervently pray for the persecuted Church in China.

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VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - We have followed with alarm and concern the heavy handed efforts of the Regime in mainland China against the legitimate leadership of the Catholic Church in China. Though there appeared to be a warming in relations for a while, reports out of China now confirm that such hopes are fading. Recently, the Chinese Regime forcibly coerced Catholic Bishops faithful to the magisterium of the Catholic Church to attend an illegitimate gathering of the Regime-sponsored "Patriotic Association" (PA) and "Council of Bishops". They used violence against Catholic Bishops, priests and lay faithful.

The current regime in mainland China presents a public face of tolerance but acts with impunity against Catholics, other Christians and other religious believers. Reliable reports from inside this officially communist nation reveals the regular use of coercion and violence against Catholic Bishops, priests and faithful. For example,in order to coerce his attendance at the illegitimate meeting mentioned above, Bishop Feng Xinmao was seized by 100 police officers and government agents. His priests and members of the lay faithful reportedly fought for hours to prevent his arrest. Eventually, the Bishop was arrested by Police and then placed in isolation.

The Bishop was initially rescued by the faithful and returned to his home. However, the representatives of the Regime did not give up. According to reliable sources, when they attempted to again seize the Bishop once again, the faithful fought for hours to prevent violence against him but were unsuccessful. The Bishop was then dragged to Beijing and forced to attend the illegitimate gathering.

This is only one example of the aggressive show of oppressive force against the Catholic Church. It comes on the heels of the illegitimate ordination of Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai as a Bishop despite the clear objection by the Holy See. This took place on November 20, 2010. An official statement from the Vatican noted that the ordination occurred "without the apostolic mandate and, therefore, constitutes a painful wound upon ecclesial communion and a grave violation of Catholic discipline."

The statement continued, "This ordination not only does not contribute to the good of the Catholics of Chengde, but places them in a very delicate and difficult condition, also from the canonical point of view, and humiliates them, because the Chinese civil authorities wish to impose on them a pastor who is not in full communion, either with the Holy Father or with the other bishops throughout the world."

On Friday, December 17, 2010 the Holy See issued a strongly worded statement concerning the oppression of the Catholic Church by the regime in mainland China. They affirmed their continued willingness to engage in dialogue but condemned the 'grave violation' of the religious freedom of Catholics. They specifically decried the action of forcing priests and Bishops to attend the illegitimate gathering of what the statement rightly referred to as the "so called Bishops Conference and Catholic Patriotic Association". The meeting was a sham and a propaganda ploy. The effort is as old as communism itself. Seek to destroy the connection between the Catholic faithful and the successor of the Apostle Peter, the Pope. It has never worked in the past and it will not work now.

The Holy See condemned these actions in no uncertain terms and we must do so as well! The statement called these State sponsored groups "incompatible" with the Catholic faith and we do so as well! They reminded the faithful of the Pope's invitation to pray for their brethren being oppressed in mainland China. As we approach the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, it is time to ask ourselves a very serious question. Are we praying for our brethren oppressed throughout the world because they bear the name of the One whose birth we will soon celebrate?

We urge our readers around the globe to fervently pray for the persecuted Church in China. They are our brothers and sisters, joined in the bond of Baptismal and Eucharistic communion. We also urge that a loud cry be raised against the failure of Western governments, including the current administration in the United States, for their failure to stand up against the egregious violation of a fundamental human right, the Right to Religious Freedom, in mainland China.

We should also ask ourselves the following question; with our growing economic reliance on the Regime in China, are we sacrificing our fundamental obligation to defend human freedom and human rights because we depend on the economic assistance of a repressive regime? It is time for Catholic Action.

Here is the statement of the Vatican:

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"1. With profound sorrow, the Holy See laments the fact that from 7 to 9 December 2010 there was held in Beijing ...

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1 - 10 of 15 Comments

MrCee2
2 years ago
@ Robert, not to argue with you or discredit your wife's statements, however I would not say that China has true religous freedom. At one time (possibly still today) there were legal and illegal bibles, and churches. It was at one point illegal to teach religion to children under 18. Yes China did have churches and seminaries and preachers. But they were discouraged to speak about the Risen Christ or God's Kingdom on Earth, for fear it would cast the state in a light lesser than God. I should preface this with saying China is so large that the experience with religous freedom goes to both extremes. And I am biased because of my work and research with persecuted chruch in China. I would ask you a question about your comment. You say " The thing about China is that you have to follow their political rules. You're right, China isnt a democracy, it is still China. But at the same time they are willing to work with any and all religions as long as the religious establishment is willing to put down their political swords." I would ask you, how far are you willing to follow their rules? Would you follow their rules over the rules of God? What is political about Churches teaching what is morally right and wrong, perhaps the state calls it political when it is shown that some of it's policies are morally wrong. As I said I do not want to argue with you, or put down what you said, I'm merely trying to further the conversation and maybe point out some things that you have not thought of. As always God bless you and your fiance. I wish you both the happiness and the perfection that the Lord finds with his bride.
-Drew
MrCee2
2 years ago
This is a sad remenant from the Communist days of China. It's ironic that the Communists managed to embed the lie that Christianity is a "forigen devil" religon. When historical evidence clearly shows missions, and churches in China hundreds of years before the very first communist. I wonder if the "Thress-Self" philosophy/policy is still taught/in effect. It states "China's churches must be Self-Governed, Self-Supported, and Self-Sustained". Supposedly this is to reduce the influence of outsiders on the Chinese. I believe it is an attempt to sub-consciously influence people that nothing, not even God's Bride on earth, is greater than the state. I pray for the lost souls that perpetuate this work of the devil.
-Drew
Jo
2 years ago
Try as they might, China will NEVER, EVER, EVER destroy the Roman Catholic Church with His Holiness The Pope as Christ's Vicar on Earth.

Chinese bishops should steadfastly refuse to attend these political ceremonies in spite of dungeon, fire and sword like our forebears did. Then, when atrocities are committed, will the world finally wake up?

As Our Lady requests: PRAY, PRAY, PRAY THE ROSARY!!!!
Bob
2 years ago
And we're afraid in this country to call Christmas, Christmas, out of the fear of offending a few people. I am boycotting the "Holiday Luncheon" at work to show my solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
QWERTYUIOP
2 years ago
This is nothing more than just another scheme to get a certain level of political control over the Chinese people, and their society. How pathetic.
Jorge
2 years ago
The main issue is that china systematically refuses to respect IN PRACTICE, what it says to uphold in theory-freedom of thought, freedom of expression and freedom of religion.the chinese dictatorship fails to realise that THEY CANNOT HOLD IN CHAINS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, no matter what barbaric violence they do..we obey ONLY to JESUS CHRIST, GOD INCARNATED..no power on this earth can EVER control us.They should keep their politics, violence and curruption OUT from our church that will never submit to any material power, since it is a spiritual universal endeavour that sees no boundaries and LOVES ALL PEOPLE EQUALY, regardless of political, ethnical or racial afiliation!
PhilipEdmund
2 years ago
There is no "right" to religious freedom. Each and every right was bought with blood, and are maintained as a right by blood. Believe it. Sounds like maybe Bishop Feng Xinmao should be the next Pope. Like JP II brought down Marxist Russia (as part of the triad of Thatcher and the US), maybe he will be the key to bringing down communist China.
James Gutierrez
2 years ago
I couldn't agree with you all of you more! It's about time that the Vatican and the Leaders of our precious Church to start taking affirmative action. We as Catholics around the World definitely have a voice, because we are the Strongest and Most vibrant Religion there ever has been on this earth and will continue to be. We need to stand up as a whole and protect His Church, as we have faced many obstacles throughout the existence of the Catholic Church. I have no issues with boycotting of buying their goods, because I know one thing is for certain, money to them is like fine Gold, when in reality, it's the worst thing to strive for, because the Last will finish first, and the First will finish Last!!!!! By taking away what they truly care about, and they start losing their lucrative resources globally, they will then have start looking at the big picture, because without our buying their products, there is no way they can succeed or will endure the financial hardships they will face, guaranteed!!!!!! They have to rely on our investments and resources to survive period!!!!!
Pete
2 years ago
I agree with Vance. Religous freedom is a basic Fundamental Right of ALL Men. This is an area where the USCCB should be involved. CCC 2245 & 2246. But after supporting ACORN, the Dream Act, and fake Global Warming, I doubt people are paying attention to the USCCB lately.
andrew
2 years ago
If Rome persecuted the faithful yet, the faithful triumphed. Governments are but elected representatives of earthly power through secularism, economics and diplomacy, they can never help.

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