Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng called the Vatican’s pact with China over the selection of bishops “preposterous” in a sharp critique of the Sino-Vatican agreement published Monday.
The September agreement is “a slap in the face to millions of Catholics and other faithful religious people in China who have suffered real persecution under the CCP,” Chen wrote in an essay on Public Discourse Nov. 26.
Chen, a blind lawyer, was imprisoned for his pro-life advocacy against forced abortions and sterilizations under China’s former “one child policy.” His dramatic escape from detention in 2012 led him to gain asylum through the American embassy in Beijing, eventually going on to serve as a visiting fellow at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.
“I grew up under this Party-State system and personally experienced the Communist Party’s violence and brutality, and I have known and worked with countless individuals in China who have been persecuted for their beliefs,” Chen wrote.
“I am sure that the active members of underground churches in China who have persevered against crippling persecution for so long can only feel betrayed,” he continued.
The Vatican rapprochement with the Chinese government brings Church leaders “closer to a Communist Party that is responsible for the deaths of over four hundred million unborn children and hundreds of millions of Chinese people,” Chen wrote.
Chen maintained that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been increasingly hostile to religion as more and more Chinese people put their trust in a faith higher than the party state.
“The CCP has been arresting priests, threatening congregants, and searching churches and places of worship. Many have disappeared and been tortured while under the regime’s control, refusing to relinquish their beliefs to a degraded, intolerant political party, and proving the power of their faith,” Chen wrote.
After the Sept. 22 agreement between the Holy See and Beijing to normalize the situation of China’s Catholics, Chinese authorities demolished two Catholic Marian shrines in Shanxi and Guizhou.
Full story at The Catholic Herald.
The Holy See has entered into another Reichskonkordat!
I fear you are right, Sol.
May Ignatius Cardinal Kung through the mercy of God, rest in peace, and if he is already in heaven, May he pray for China and the U.S. too.
Anonymous,
The sad thing is that Francis chooses to “believe” Communists, opting to delude himself that they can be trusted.
This is the exact opposite of St. John Paul II’s view. He never trusted them, and was an active component of the downfall of Communism in Eastern Europe and breakup of the former Soviet Union.
The Holy See has strayed to make dangerous alliances in such a short time.
Sol, the Anonymous post was mine — Anne TE.
Also, pray for Cdl. Zen and those in the “underground” Church in Communist China, by commending them to the mercy and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, [they] fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, [their] mother; to thee do [they] come, before thee [they] stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not [their] petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer [them].
Amen.”
Have done and will continue to do.
SHAME on the Vatican and Pope Francis. There must be a COMMUNIST MOLE at the Holy See and at the top. od bless the Chinese Catholics. Shame on the pope for betraying them
With the government appointed bishops in Communist China, there will be moles whenever those bishops visit the Vatocan on “official” Church business.
This agreement establishes caesaropapism in China. Considering how much the Church has been harmed by this in the past, this is a sad sad day.
It’s just a matter of time before the Church endorses and possibly participates in abortion and other crimes against humanity.
The Communist Chinese government already endorses abortion. It is not outside the realm of probability that the official Chinese Church, recognized by the government, will adopt the same position.
After all, that government approves the appointment of bishops.
How does the Chinese government look upon sodomy?
Stick to the subject of the article. No need to use this forum as a personal podium for your agenda.
There are other articles here, more suited for your agenda.
Read The Dictator Pope. The levels of corruption run deep. Lots of moles…
The “Holy Father” and tje “Holy See” has successfully silenced Cdl. Zen and the true Church in China:
https://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2018/11/cardinal-zen-says-he-will-resign-if.html?m=1
Pray to all our brothers that they maybe safe and unharmed.
This is as good as having the Holy See send the true Catholic Church’s members in China to the equivalent of the Collessium for martyrdom!!!
The martyrdom of Vatholics in Communist China has begun, all with the complicity of Pope Francis and the entire Vatican diplomatic corps:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/china-ramping-up-persecution-of-catholics-in-spite-of-vatican-accord