Pope Francis Is Warned Against Betraying China's Underground Church

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Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired Bishop of Hong Kong, has warned the Vatican against forging an agreement with the Chinese government that would grant it significant power over the Catholic Church in the country. Cardinal Zen has stated that he would consider any such deal a betrayal by the Holy See of the underground Catholic faithful in China.

It is estimated that millions of Catholics in China are forced to worship underground as they refuse to register with the state’s official Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA). These “underground” Catholics recognize the authority of the Holy See and opt to worship clandestinely due to the risk of harassment from authorities. Meanwhile, the communist-approved Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association operates under the supervision of the central government and the activities of its clerics are strictly monitored.

Cardinal Zen has explained that priests and bishops in the so-called underground church have been thrown in jail for submitting to the Holy See rather than the state-overseen church. If a deal is approved between the Chinese government and the Catholic authorities in Rome, it is feared that the agreement would amount to an official recognition by the Vatican of the government-controlled Church. The deal would grant the government the power to nominate bishops, although Beijing would have to submit its nominees to the Pope for ultimate acceptance or rejection.

More:
christianpost.com/news/pope-warned-against-betraying-chinas-underground-church-175723/
 
Can we please stop with all the incendiary Pope Francis headlines.
 
It is my humble opinion - given the current Chinese government’s long history of human rights abuses and suppression of “non-sanctioned” religion - that no deal should ever be made by the Holy See with the current government in China. To think that China would ever allow the Catholic Church to function openly in China without interference is naive.

I think it would be better to wait for a more “suitable” government and a more permissive climate to take root in China.

:twocents:
 
rfournier103 said:
It is my humble opinion - given the current Chinese government’s long history of human rights abuses and suppression of “non-sanctioned” religion - that no deal should ever be made by the Holy See with the current government in China. To think that China would ever allow the Catholic Church to function openly in China without interference is naive.

I think it would be better to wait for a more “suitable” government and a more permissive climate to take root in China.

:twocents:
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Yeah, it sounds like this agreement would hurt Chinese Catholics. Let’s hope no agreement is made.
 
ClearWater said:
We need to be able to speak openly about the news without censorship. That’s news and important.
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We are obligated to speak respectfully about our leaders in the church, especially the Holy Father.
 
PluniaZ said:
Can we please stop with all the incendiary Pope Francis headlines.
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You are very perceptive, and I strongly agree with your outrage. The Holy Father deserves so much more esteem and respect. I am saddened by how much distortion and animosity
his papacy generates on this site.

Pope Francis is a man moved by the Holy Spirit, and his fervor and passion should be celebrated, especially on a Catholic forum. It astounds me how profoundly he disturbs a small segment of the Roman Catholic community. He seems to have really rattled their cages. Perhaps that is his intention?
 
Cardinal Zen also believes the Pope should answer the dubia. It’s news !
 
PluniaZ said:
Can we please stop with all the incendiary Pope Francis headlines.
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I think you’re reading too much into it. The Cardinal has indeed warned the Pope that he considers this proposal a bad move. Popes aren’t infallible nor impeccable when it comes to political treaties. The Chinese Cardinal has a right, even a duty, to warn the Pope of a potential political move that he considers to be dangerous.
 
unafraid said:
You are very perceptive, and I strongly agree with your outrage. The Holy Father deserves so much more esteem and respect. I am saddened by how much distortion and animosity
his papacy generates on this site.

Pope Francis is a man moved by the Holy Spirit, and his fervor and passion should be celebrated, especially on a Catholic forum. It astounds me how profoundly he disturbs a small segment of the Roman Catholic community. He seems to have really rattled their cages. Perhaps that is his intention?
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Where do you see disrespect in this particular news article / thread? This is a political debate. The Holy See as a sovereign state is negotiating with the state of China. The Cardinal believes the proposed agreement (again a political agreement) between the two states is ill advised. Doesn’t he have a right to express those views? This is hardly a debate over doctrine or any faith / morals. This is a matter of worldly politics.

Of course if this proposal does go through it is not completely without precedent. Bishops have often been appointed by secular rulers at various points in history. They were, however, at least Christian rulers. In this case, we are looking at the possibility of atheist secular rulers nominating Catholic bishops. It seems like a bad idea to me…but that’s for the Holy See and Cardinal Zen to debate.
 
unafraid said:
…The Holy Father deserves so much more esteem and respect. I am saddened by how much distortion and animosity his papacy generates on this site…
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I’m presuming you must be referring to other threads here on this site and not this particular one? This thread is reporting Catholic news, of which this is. I personally, don’t have a strong opinion on the topic. I presume Pope Francis will prayerfully consider the direction the Church ought to take in regard to this situation.
 
unafraid said:
You are very perceptive, and I strongly agree with your outrage. The Holy Father deserves so much more esteem and respect. I am saddened by how much distortion and animosity
his papacy generates on this site.

Pope Francis is a man moved by the Holy Spirit, and his fervor and passion should be celebrated, especially on a Catholic forum. It astounds me how profoundly he disturbs a small segment of the Roman Catholic community. He seems to have really rattled their cages. Perhaps that is his intention?
Click to expand...
He does rattle some cages, partly because his statements often throw into question traditions that aren’t up for debate like the effectiveness of sacraments and other issues. So yes, it is rattling.
 
Mongo said:
Are we to pretend there is no controversy? Everything is bubblegum and gumdrops? Sunshine and rainbows?
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“But I would have you to be wise in good, and simple in evil.” - Romans 16:9
 
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