Chinese Regime Persecutes Catholic Church, Threatens Further Episcopal 'Ordinations'

Last week the regime indicated its intention to attempt to ordain seven more Bishops. They argue that the Pope's objection to these threats constitutes foreign interference. This effort is as old as communism itself, whether of the Maoist or Marxist ilk. 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.

P>BEIJING, China (Catholic Online) - The brutal tyrant Joseph Stalin of the former Soviet Union is credited with asking the following question of Winston Churchill, "How many divisions does the Pope of Rome have?" His belligerence proved no match for the Catholic Church.

It is also reported that Pope Pius XII, hearing of the arrogance of the dictator, said in reply, "You can tell my son Joseph that he will meet my divisions in heaven". The Regime in Mainland China seems to be following a similar path to Stalin.

We have closely followed the heavy handed efforts of the regime in mainland China and remind our readers that Mainland China is a Nation which still espouses the Communist error. They are attempting to not only undermine - but to completely replace the leadership of the Catholic Church in China through a State sponsored "Patriotic Church."

Their efforts to control who is ordained to the office of Bishop will not succeed.

The Chinese regime currently controlling Mainland China displays the same kind of arrogance revealed by the mocking comment of Josef Stalin to Winston Churchill. Like other such totalitarian governments, the regime presents a public face of tolerance but acts with impunity against Catholics, other Christians and other religious believers.

They use coercion and violence against Catholic Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful.
 
Last year, Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai was illicitly consecrated as a Bishop by the Patriotic Church despite the adamant objection by the Holy See. An official statement from the Vatican noted that the ordination occurred "without the apostolic mandate and, therefore, constituted 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."

The Holy See referred to the act as a 'grave violation' of the religious freedom of Catholics and decried the abusive actions of the Regime in forcing priests and Bishops to attend the illegitimate gathering of the "so called Bishops Conference and Catholic Patriotic Association". The statement called these State sponsored groups "incompatible" with the Catholic faith.

On June 29, 2011, in spite of repeated and clear requests from the Holy See not to proceed, the Regime -again through their "Patriotic Church" - illicitly ordained Fr Lei Shiyin to the office of Bishop. The priest was told not to participate by the Vatican and, for his failure to comply, incurred an automatic excommunication, "latae sententiae", under Canon Law. The Latin term means roughly - by virtue of his own action.

Last week the regime indicated its intention to attempt to ordain seven more Bishops. They argue that the Pope's objection to these threats constitutes foreign interference. This effort is as old as communism itself, whether of the Maoist or Marxist ilk. 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 Regime's response was reported in a State approved newspaper on Monday in an article entitled "China responds to Vatican's threats to excommunicate Chinese bishops."  Here is an excerpt:

*****
"China's State Administration for Religious Affairs on Monday said that the Vatican's threats to excommunicate two Chinese bishops, who were ordained without papal approval, were "extremely unreasonable and rude."

The practice of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association ordaining elected bishops is for the sake of managing the country's Catholic work and spreading the belief, said a statement issued by the administration.

The threats of excommunication have severely hurt the feelings of Chinese Catholics and made its members feel sad, it said.

Lei Shiyin and Joseph Huang Bingzhang were ordained on June 29 and July 14 in Leshan of Sichuan Province and Shantou of Guangdong Province respectively.

"The majority of priests and believers will more resolutely choose the path of independently selecting and ordaining its bishops, and the government will continue to support and encourage such practice," said the administration in the statement.

(The) Chinese government is willing to improve Sino-Vatican relations through constructive dialogue, it said. "If the Vatican is sincere about improving relations, it should rescind the so-called 'excommunications,' and return to the correct path of dialogue."

*****
Clearly, this report demonstrates that the use of a propaganda press by communist regimes is not a thing of the past. The leaders of the Chinese regime may not regularly dress in uniforms like Josef Stalin, but their business suits do not cover their anti-Catholic hostility and their common disregard for fundamental human rights.

Because there are many who are not aware of the activities of the Chinese Regime against the Catholic Church, we will do everything we can to continue reporting upon it. We also intend to make it an issue in the upcoming elections in the United States. Neither major political party seems to be paying attention to this egregious violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom and this disregard for the legitimate authority of the Catholic Church.

In a report entitled "Beijing pontificates against Vatican 'threats" Bernardo Cervellera of Asia News presented the details and noted, "As is traditional practice in the Communist Party, they are using the other party's charges against them, so that while the Vatican talks of wounds to religious freedom, China paints itself as a victim of the Holy See."
 
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, to stand up against the egregious violation of a fundamental human right, the Right to Religious Freedom, in mainland China.

We again ask an important question: Has our growing economic reliance and dependence upon the Regime in China resulted in our sacrificing our fundamental obligation to defend religious freedom and fundamental human rights?

The Chinese Regime's "State Administration for Religious Affairs" has demonstrated by their actions they are not much different than the Stalinist regime, at least in regard to recognizing the fundamental human right to religious freedom. Their beliegerence will also prove to be no match for the Catholic Church.

Give the Gift of Free Catholic Education This Christmas

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'