http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/03/chinas-catholics-rome-may-betray-us-but-i-wont-join-a-church-whi/
China's Catholics:
'Rome may betray us,
but I won’t join a Church
which is controlled by the
Communist Party’
By Neil
Connor, Shijiazhuang 4 APRIL
2016 • 6:00AM
In the backyard of a rundown house, a Chinese priest stood
before his congregation and conducted an unofficial Catholic Mass.
Father Dong Baolu’s flock were gathered outdoors beside a row of
foul-smelling lavatories. They had no choice but to worship in this furtive
way, as China does not recognise these so-called “house churches”.
Even so, the congregation stayed for two hours, singing hymns
and clasping their hands in prayer.
China and the Vatican may now be edging towards a thaw that
could see Beijing recognising the illegal church, but only on terms that many
local Catholics would condemn as a betrayal.
“It’s possible that Rome may betray us,” said Fr Dong, before he
said Mass in the city of Shijiazhuang in Hebei province. “If this happens, I
will resign. I won’t join a Church which is controlled by the Communist Party.
“We are suffering like Jesus on the cross. We fight for
religious freedom and follow the Gospel – but we are not supported by either
Rome or China.”
In the past, agreement between the Vatican and China has always
been prevented by the question of who would ordain the clergy.
Beijing insists on
controlling any recognised church, mainly by appointing its hierarchy.
Some official Catholic bishops have been appointed by Beijing –
only to be excommunicated by the Vatican.
Meanwhile, the authorities have locked up priests who were
ordained by the Vatican before the break in relations in the Fifties.
But there are signs that Rome may be willing to compromise. Pope
Francis has publicly praised China and voiced the hope that he will visit the
country.
This warming in relations resulted last summer in the
consecration of Joseph Zhang Yinlin as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Anyang. He
had been nominated for this role by Beijing – and accepted by the Vatican.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, who formerly led Hong Kong’s Catholics, is
concerned about the possibility of a deal where bishops will be formally agreed
by both sides, but the Vatican will be able to veto candidates proposed by
Beijing.
“It is unthinkable to leave the initial proposal in the hands of
an atheist government who cannot possibly judge the suitability of a candidate
to be a bishop,” Cardinal Zen wrote.
Catholics fear that any agreement along these lines
wouldcompromise the independence of the Church.
Bob Fu, the director of the US-based campaign group ChinaAid,
said that any retreat by Rome would “constitute a betrayal of the Chinese
Catholic Church, especially those who have suffered even martyrdom”.
Mr Fu added: “It will be like a father’s betrayal of his own
children, a saddest day for the independent Catholic Churches in China because
the move will legitimise the Communist Party’s persecution, past, present and
perhaps future.”
Across China, about six million Catholics have refused to join
churches sanctioned by the Communist Party and chosen instead to worship in
house churches, where they remain loyal to the Vatican.
In Shijiazhuang, a Catholic bishop who is unrecognised by the
authorities, Jia Zhiguo, lives under strict surveillance.
The regime has escalated its suppression of house churches, toppling
crosses from places of worship and forcing followers deeper underground.
Meanwhile, another six million people are members of the
Catholic Patriotic Association, a Communist Party-controlled body which does
not display images of Pope Francis.
The Vatican is pursuing friendly relations with Beijing as it
believes it can do more to protect Chinese Catholics if it increases its
involvement in the country via a unified Church.
An agreement between the two sides could also see diplomatic
relations re-established between the Holy See and Beijing, which would be
considered a breakthrough in Rome.
Fr Dong has been detained “many times” by authorities, and the
open air Mass that was visited by The Telegraph was moved into his home the
following week, amid fear that it would be shut down by authorities.
Standing next to the outside lavatories, with rubble and litter
at his feet, a migrant worker who gave his surname as Pei said it was vital for
the Vatican to stand up to Beijing’s demands.
“If the independent church is no longer allowed, I will just go
home and pray,” he said. “There is only one road for us Catholics.”
Additional
reporting by Ailin Tang