A new U.S. government report states that the persecution of Catholics has worsened in China since the Vatican signed a provisional deal with the Communist Party regarding the naming of bishops.
Cardinal Joseph Zen wrote to all his brother cardinals of the Catholic Church begging them not to sit idly by as the Church in China is “murdered,” in a letter made public this week.
ROME — The former bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, said Pope Francis’ new policies in dealing with the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) are “killing” the underground Church in that country.
Communist party officials have notified a diocese in China’s southeastern Jiangxi province that they will soon demolish the underground church of the Annunciation because of the failure of its pastor to join the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association.
The Chinese government has forbidden Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin from celebrating the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday unless he enlists as a member of the state-controlled Patriotic Catholic Association (PCA).
Pope Francis has called on Chinese bishops to show respect and loyalty to the ruling Chinese Communist Party as faithful “members of the Chinese people.”
Officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have arrested four priests of the underground Catholic Church for refusing to join the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association.
The Vatican announced the signing of a “provisional agreement” with China on the appointment of bishops Saturday, without specifying the terms of the accord.
Bishops of China’s state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) have told dioceses to draft local versions of a national “Sinicization” program to bring the Catholic Church into line with the ideals of the Communist party.
The Vatican has denied media reports of an imminent signing of an accord between the Holy See and China, which suggested that a deal could be struck as soon as this weekend.
