Critics question deal with the atheist, authoritarian Chinese government

Juliet Palmer — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 08:08:29 +0000

Critics are questioning the church's decision to join forces with the atheist, authoritarian Chinese government.

Under a provisional agreement, the Vatican will recognise the legitimacy of bishops appointed by Beijing.

The deal comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is cracking down on "illegal" Christian groups in the country.

Amnesty International China researcher Patrick Poon is concerned about the effect the agreement will have on freedom of religion in China in the future.

"Such an agreement will effectively set a very bad precedent for other religions (in China) ... It will put Catholics under a lot of pressure," he says.

Although Chinese state media supports the proposal and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China say they "wholeheartedly supported" the deal, others don't paint so positive a picture.

Father Bernardo Cervellera says the reaction had been more muted among Chinese Catholics.

"There is on one hand a little bit of joy, because something is happening, there is a provisional agreement, but there is a lot of sadness because many problems remain open, above all the fact that many bishops have been disappeared at the hands of the police," he says.

Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong says the agreement is an "incredible betrayal."

He is accusing the Vatican of "giving the flock into the mouths of the wolves."

He believes the agreement will result in "spiritual suffering" in China's underground church.

"They fear that the Holy See is betraying the faith and that they want them to join this betrayal," he says.

He also fears the Vatican will abandon official ties with Taiwan now the agreement has been signed, as Beijing demands any country that has relations with China must forfeit recognition of self-ruling Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified.

"I'm afraid the people in Taiwan may not understand because it looks like a betrayal of a friend."

Taiwan officials say the Vatican has assured them the agreement will not affect diplomatic ties as Beijing makes a concerted effort to poach their dwindling allies.

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Critics question deal with the atheist, authoritarian Chinese government

Landmark deal signed between Vatican and China

Juliet Palmer — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:09:03 +0000

A landmark deal on appointing new bishops was signed on Saturday between the Vatican and China's ruling Communist Party.

While welcoming the breakthrough "provisional agreement," China's Catholic Church reaffirmed its loyalty to the country's ruling Communist Party on Sunday.

The Vatican says the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China was signed "within the framework of the contacts between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China that have been underway for some time in order to discuss Church matters of common interest and to promote further understanding."

In a joint statement, the Vatican and the Beijing government said the agreement is "the fruit of a gradual and reciprocal rapprochement" and expresses the desire that the "agreement may favour a fruitful and forward-looking process of institutional dialogue."

Pointing to the significance of the move, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said simply: "Today, for the first time after decades, all the bishops in China are in communion with the Bishop of Rome."

Almost since the establishment of the Communist People's Republic of China in 1949, Catholics in the country have been split into two groups.

One group is an underground organisation that recognizes the pope and his authority over naming bishops.

The other is a state-supported "Patriotic Catholic Association" that names its own bishops.

Francis has made resolving the question of episcopal appointments in China one of his diplomatic priorities.

In a statement on the Vatican's behalf about the new agreement, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See's objective in signing it is pastoral.

"The Holy See intends just to create the condition or help to create the condition of a greater freedom, autonomy and organization," he said.

In doing so, Parolin said the Church can "dedicate itself to the mission of announcing the Gospel and ...contribute to the well-being and to the spiritual and material prosperity and harmony of the country, of every person and of the world as a whole."

The effect of the agreement is already being felt.

As Parolin noted, "... for the first time all the Bishops in China are in communion with the Bishop of Rome, with the Successor of Peter."

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Landmark deal signed between Vatican and China

Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China - CathNews New Zealand

Critics question deal with the atheist, authoritarian Chinese government

Landmark deal signed between Vatican and China