China dosn’t want what’s currently in place. They don’t want to allow it, and unless you’ve not heard, it dosn’t work out too well anyway.Continue the system of Vatican appointed bishops that’s currently in place, while the Church works for better terms.
The Church can’t stay walled-up at the Vatican. If she won’t have anything to do with any government that has policies that are in opposition to Church teaching, that would trim the list drastically. On the topics of abortion, suicide, laws governing marriage and so on, she certainly couldn’t have diplomatic ties with the United States.Okay. That’s a valid point.
But the inherent hypocrisy in the Church (the strongest pro-life institute n in the world) negotiating with Communist China (a country that forces abortions upon women) is absurd and makes me sick, quite frankly.
Not quite right. The agreement between the Vatican and the Polish Communist government at the time allowed for the Vatican to choose bishops, but the Communist government had veto power over a choice. This resulted in a rather strange game, as the Church would not nominate their first choice right away, assuming the government would veto one or two and eventually they would have to agree to one. I do not recall if John Paul II was the second or third choice of the Vatican to become the Archbishop of Krakow, but he was not the first. That does not mean the Church wanted someone else more than him, just how the game was played.f I’m not mistaken John Paul II was appointed as Bishop by the communist government in Poland at the time. They chose him over older, more experienced priests because they thought he would be easier to control. They didn’t know what they were in for!
I am late to the conversation, but it is not at all unusual for the Vatican to reach formal agreements with totalitarian governments in an attempt to keep the faith alive and keep sacraments available. Now, one can argue the Vatican does not have a stellar record in doing so, but I do not agree with people that any agreement with China would be that unusual from an historical standpoint.There’s been a lot of talk about an “imminent” deal between the Vatican & China, and I must admit - my Faith will be greatly shaken if this happens. To my knowledge, this would be the first time an officially Atheistic, Communist state has ever had formal ties with the Vatican. Is that correct?
If so, how would one look at this without coming to the conclusion that Man is “calling the shots” in place of God?
Well, sometimes, if you’re willing to take the matter to the Supreme Court.The US allows sin, but doesent mandate it like China.
The evils in the US, while pale in comparison with China, are nothing to sneeze at. You make no headway drawing lines in the sand.The US allows sin, but doesent mandate it like China.
The Vatican has in the past, however. Again, look at PJPII. The Vatican knows how to “play the game” of politics.Yes, and the Vatican does not allow those countries to appoint bishops.
If you’re a government bishop, and the Church says you should resist abortions in all cases, while the government says ‘no, its okay, Big Brother knows best’ and your job (and perhaps your life) depend upon the government, it’s pretty likely you’ll turn against the Church’s teachings.