Will the Vatican abandon Taiwan?

[justbeinfrank]

I don’t know if this is accurate, but the (arch)bishop of Hong Kong is saying that the Vatican is very interested in establishing formal relations with the People’s Republic of China. So interested, in fact, that they may be willing to un-recognize Taiwan and give the Chinese some power over choosing bishops!

The Communist government has forced the Chinese Catholic Church underground because it sees the Pope’s authority to choose bishops as a threat to its sovereignty. (They’re also pissed because the the Holy See recognizes Taiwan as an independent nation.) The “Patriotic Catholic Church”, which does not have ties to the Vatican, is the only legal expression of Catholicism.

It is, admittedly, a deplorable state of affairs for ordinary Chinese Catholics. But I’m skeptical that a virtual surrender on the part of the Vatican is the right course of action. (I’m particularly worried that the Taiwanese would feel abandoned by Holy Mother Church!)

Then again, who knows if the story is even true?

 

[Digitonomy]

Yes, they’ve been talking about this for a couple years, but especially in the past 6 months. The Taiwanese have apparently been expecting this - they’re used to countries switching their embassies from Taipei to Beijing; it’s a pattern that’s been going on for 30+ years.

As for it being a virtual surrender by the Vatican, that will depend on the terms of the deal. The Vatican wants the authority to select the bishops, although it is expected that as a formality, Beijing would appoint the bishops that Rome had selected. Such a system is in place in Vietnam right now.

China would also like assurances that the Church won’t be mouthing off about human rights and other sensitive issues. I suspect they’ll reach an understanding on this, but both sides know that it’s not always easy to muzzle an outspoken priest or bishop, short of arresting them.

Finally, you might think that integrating the “patriotic” communist-run churches with the underground churches would be a difficult task, with decades-old enmity and feelings that the other side betrayed their faith, or their country. There is probably some truth to this, but from what I’ve heard the “patriotic” churches were openly mourning John Paul. Also, in recent years these churches apparently tried to run their bigger decisions and appointments by the Vatican, for an unofficial “OK.”

So it definitely sounds like it will happen sometime in the next couple years. It’s just a matter of both sides being satisfied with the terms of their deal.

Here’s another article that just came out yesterday about this (free registration required):
Hint of Thaw Between China and Vatican

 

[Richardols]

I never thought that I see the day that the Vatican, the one country that recognizes it diplomatically, would sell out Taiwan.

Disgusting!

 

[Digitonomy]

I think the well-being and faith of Catholics in China is more important than whether a few egos are bruised in Taiwan.

25 Countries which recognize Taiwan:

Belize, Burkina Faso, Chad, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, The Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Kiribati, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Swaziland, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.

 

[Richardols]

Digitonomy:

I think the well-being and faith of Catholics in China is more important than whether a few egos are bruised in Taiwan.

I think that the well-being and faith of free Catholics on Taiwan might be more important than having the Vatican bow down in obeisance to Communist egos.

A pity if the Vatican cuts a deal with the Reds and sells out the Taiwanese.

 

[Franze]

Richardols:

I think that the well-being and faith of free Catholics on Taiwan might be more important than having the Vatican bow down in obeisance to Communist egos.

A pity if the Vatican cuts a deal with the Reds and sells out the Taiwanese.

It could be, what will you do?

 

[Richardols]

Franze:

It could be, what will you do?

What can one do? Spit on the floor in disgust when one thinks of the Vatican Secretary of State and his diplomatic machinations is about all one can do.

It is appalling that the Vatican will bend its knee to the regime on the mainland.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I don’t think the Vatican wants abandon Taiwan but it wants to secure religious freedom for the Catholic faithful in China.

“When it is a question of the salvation of some soul or of preventing greater evils from befalling souls, We feel courageous enough to deal with the devil in person.” (Pius XI)

 

[Richardols]

Sarah Jane:

I don’t think the Vatican want abandon Taiwan but it wants to secure religious freedom for the Catholic faithful in China.

We’ll see if that actually happens or if the Vatican will have been bamboozled by the Chinese. I vote for bamboozled.