The Chinese government has been ‘very successful in gaining a great deal of sway over the papacy’ through a ‘secret deal’ negotiated between Pope Francis and the Communist party, according to Chaplains Without Borders Founder Father James Grant. While one in 14 Chinese are reported to be Christian, many are connected with home churches which Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Chinese Catholics’
‘Secret deal’ between the Vatican and China ‘backfires’ on Chinese Catholics
Thursday, June 11th, 202048,000 Catholic baptisms in China last year
Monday, March 4th, 2019
The China-based Faith Institute for Cultural Studies says there were about 48,000 Catholic baptisms last year in the People’s Republic. The institute says it gathered the data from 104 Catholic dioceses recognised by the Chinese authorities. These dioceses are scattered in over 30 national provincial divisions. In common with previous years, the research found the Read more
China and Vatican to sign landmark deal
Monday, September 17th, 2018
Under a new landmark deal with the Vatican, Beijing will recognise Pope Francis as the head of China’s Catholics. In return, the Vatican will recognise excommunicated Chinese bishops. The deal will end a long struggle between Beijing’s Communist rulers and the pope over who chooses the leaders of Catholicism in China. “It is a baby Read more
Could latest Beijing-Rome sparring be sign of better relations?
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015
The latest verbal sparring between Rome and Beijing could be preliminary moves in which both sides establish the ground rules for future relations. Last week, Pope Francis called on Chinese Catholics to attach themselves to “the rock of Peter on which the Church was built”. This means giving allegiance to Rome, rather than the government-sanctioned Read more
Former head of ‘underground bishops’ in China dies
Friday, November 8th, 2013
Retired Bishop Peter Liu Guandong of Yixian, former acting president of China’s “underground” Church community’s bishops’ conference, died on October 28 at the age of 94. A report by UCA News said the Vatican-approved bishop, who escaped house arrest and lived in hiding for the last 16 years of his life, was buried in secret Read more