Even at 85 years old, retired Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius C. Wang tries to visit China at least once a year and keep up on developments in the Catholic Church there.
The Beijing-born former auxiliary bishop of San Francisco told Catholic San Francisco that the church’s situation there has been “normal.”
“I really have a great faith in China, and the persecution, well, we can understand that. Communism is atheism. It’s against any religion,” said Bishop Wang, who celebrates his 60th priestly ordination anniversary this year.
Given the circumstances of the Catholic Church in China, which is divided between an underground church and a state-approved Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, Bishop Wang said “the deal with the Vatican is very good.”
“The agreement acknowledges you have the last word, but we recommend,” he said. “There are nearly 6,000 bishops in the world, how many would the pope know personally? It has to be local, as long as they do it conscientiously. I just hope it doesn’t happen that they send bad ones on purpose for Rome to approve.”
Even after the agreement signed nearly a year ago, Catholic bishops and priests belonging to the underground church in China continue to be imprisoned and campaigns to remove crosses and bulldoze churches persist. Bishop Wang said persecution of the church tends to originate on a municipal or provincial level, reflecting local corruption, ambition and rivalry rather than national directives from the Communist leadership.
Bishop Wang said persecution is also a constant burden for the church.
“Compared to the history of the church, this time is not worse than any other time,” he said. “The church is there, the foundation is a big rock but the storms always come and blow. That’s normal. If you expect nothing, that’s not normal.
“Look at here, we have persecution right here,” he continued. “Right now they want us to reveal confession’s secrecy. I’d rather go to jail. Isn’t this persecution?”
Full story at Catholic San Francisco.
Bp. Wang: “I just hope it doesn’t happen that they send bad ones on purpose for Rome to approve.” But why would atheistic communists send anything else? Cardinal Zen has a much better read on the matter.
It is a “good deal” for the new Church of Pope Francis. It is not Catholic.
So a deal with the devil is good for the church ? he this priest ever heard of Fatima and Russia spreading her errors ? how about Quisling during WW2, sad that a bishop with his years and experience comment like this . A reminder that mccarrick played a part in this evil accord, pray four faithful Chinese brothers and sisters.
These comments cruelly dismiss the serious persecution of faithful Catholics in Red China. To compare their persecution to the experience of California Catholics is grossly unfair to our Chinese Catholic brethren (although the California Democrats will massively ramp up their persecution of Christians as our rotting culture allows).
The Vatican may not be in a position to stop the persecution, but it was a horrible betrayal when they made a secret agreement allowing the Red Chinese persecutor of Christians to play a role in the selection of bishops, at the same time demanding that faithful bishops resign to make way for apostate priests. Perhaps this elderly bishop does not really understand what’s happening.
The Red Chinese…
All the people who are not Chinese, nor have ever been trying to correct a Chinese Bishop. Stop trying to make Pope Francis your enemy.
David , I am a Catholic ,I don’t have to be Chinese , I can see a evil and comment on a accord that does not help our brothers and sisters , Pope Francis I hope is not our enemy but this and his other statements, actions, and obfuscations do not serve the faithful. This deal with the devil does not seem to be doing our brothers and sisters any good , is that a surprise from a communist entity ? , see what that government is doing to control the populace through social media and then tel me you would want them as your confessor Pope Francis made this deal , has promoted it so he owns it , if it had been a success it would have been celebrated , it has been a failure so the criticism is to be expected .You need to read your history of…
David: “All the people who are not Chinese, nor have ever been trying to correct a Chinese Bishop.”
How is this not racist?
Clueless Polyanna or useful idiot for the ChiComs?
For David contd . .You need to read your history of the martyrs under socialism and communism , some were Chinese, btw if we are all Catholic why would it matter any posters ethnicity in commenting on this story ? to me this bishop whatever his race is due criticism as would be dolan, mccarrick, mahoney, and tobin etc.
David what is with your syntax ?, what is it in clear terms are you trying to say ?.