Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Vatican welcomes Chinese delegation to discuss religious law

la-croix.com :

The Vatican has expressed concern about Beijing’s clampdown on freedom of religious practice after delegations from the Vatican and China met for the first time in six months on June 15, according to Reuters.

During the meeting in Rome the Vatican also raised the subject of naming new bishops in China, with Vatican sources saying they are pursuing dialogue, the media reports.

The Holy See has been alarmed by a rule banning unaccompanied minors from entering churches in some regions while legislation enacted in February subjects church affairs to greater scrutiny, it said.

The same law also offers stricter punishments for those who violate China’s strict laws on religious practice by engaging in “unsanctioned” activities.

The two sides officially cut ties 70 years ago – Mao Zedong led the formation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 -- but the recent gathering has boosted optimism that a deal could be eked out.

The church in China is split between so-called underground communities that support the Pope and those belonging to the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association that do not recognize his authority.

The government effectively appoints bishops in willful disregard for the Vatican’s wishes, which has long been a bone of contention.

Normalized relations, while still considered a long way off and reportedly not a subject that was broached at the latest round of talks, would give the Vatican control over China’s estimated 12 million Catholics.

Other reports say China may have the world’s largest population of Christians within the next few years, with Protestant churches multiplying at a fast clip.

But critics say the Vatican is doing too little to protect Christians in China, with Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired bishop of Hong Kong, making waves earlier by blasting Rome for having “sold out” to China through a series of compromises.

The two delegations last met in Beijing in December.