BEIJENG, China (Catholic Online) - I try to remember to regularly write about the horrid persecution of faithful Catholics by the Communist Regime currently ruling mainland China. Their plight needs to be known. We are bound to them in the solidarity of our Baptism and we need to pray and act on their behalf.

Sadly, because these Maoist Atheists now wear business suits, smile a lot, and hold commercial paper which represents a substantial amount of American I.O.U.'s, few politicians in either major political party have the courage to call them out for their egregious human rights abuses.

In addition to the Communist regime's crimes against humanity such as forced abortion and sterilization, they persecute Christians and other religious believers - with a special hatred directed against the Catholic Church. Sadly, few politicians in the US, Republican or Democrat, speak out about these abuses. There are exceptions such as Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey.

With our growing economic reliance and dependence upon 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.
 
In an article in Asia News entitled "The new Maoism that suffocates the Church and China" written by Bernardo Cervellera we read that Wednesday's "Episcopal ordination in Changsha shows that Maoism and control over religion is stronger than ever."

This reliable writer claims that the resistance to the Regime's mistreatment of faithful Catholics and other Christians is growing. He notes that "for months, groups of priests and bishops of the underground Church are taken, isolated and subjected to political sessions to make them understand the benefits of the Party's religious policies."

However, even with this horrid persecution of Christians in China, and especially the persecution of faithful Catholics, the Regime cannot stop the advance of the Christian faith. The Catholic news agency Fides reported this week "that 22,104 people were baptized in China on Easter Sunday.

"The statistics were collected by the Study Centre of Faith in the Chinese province of He Bei. The newly-baptized Catholics, 75 per cent of whom are adults, belong to 101 dioceses. In He Bei itself 4,410 people were baptized on Easter Day, 615 more than last year, while in Hong Kong, which has more than 360,000 faithful, there were 3,500 baptisms."

"In evaluating these figures, it should be borne in mind that some dioceses do not celebrate all their baptisms at Easter. For example, in Shang Hai there were 379 Easter baptisms but the total figure could exceed 1,500 by the end of the year."

"According to Sr. Li Guo Shuang of the Study Center, "there are still some dioceses or communities which, due to communication difficulties, have not yet reported data to us. So we must emphasize that the figures are not complete, they may still increase".

Pray for the persecuted Church in China. Pray for the leaders of China to be converted and cease this horrid persecution. Pray for the continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church in China.