Basing our hopes for the Church in China on rock, not sand
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Today we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, proposed by Benedict XVI in his Letter to the Catholics of China (2007). The day coincides with the feast of Mary Help of Christians, who is venerated at the National Shrine of Sheshan, near Shanghai. Despite the difficulties and restrictions , this year the faithful of the diocese of Shanghai have been able to organize a pilgrimage, in the visible absence of their Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin, still under house arrest. To help our prayer on this day, we publish an analysis of the situation of the Church in China by PIME missionary Fr. Sergio Ticozzi, an expert in China and resident in Hong Kong.
Last year in March, the Holy Spirit gifted the Catholic Church Pope Francis as Supreme Pontiff; At the same time, the People's Republic of China elected Xi Jinping as its president. This coincidence generated great expectations in many Catholics both in China and outside, given the two new leaders' similar attitudes and ways of administering. But in fact , both have had to deal with very urgent internal problems, so thus far neither has considered the concrete problematic of the Catholic Church in China.
With regard to its internal life, the situation of the Church in China is characterized by a significant commitment of many of the clergy and the faithful in evangelization and catechesis, but also the difficulties for evangelization itself, the process of reconciliation [between the official and unofficial communities- ed] and, above all, the lack of trust and cooperation at all levels, especially among bishops and priests and between priests themselves .
On the other hand, in external relations there is considerable tension between the Holy See and Beijing , caused by the cutting off of all contact after the illegal ordination of Guo Jincai; the running of the 8th National Assembly of Catholic Representatives (end of 2010) and the situation of stasis of the ordinations of bishops , after three illegitimate ordinations with subsequent excommunication in 2011-12 and Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin decision to retire from his post in the Patriotic Association July 7, 2012. This move was greeted with enthusiasm by the Catholics of Shanghai but it resulted in a harsh clampdown by the Chinese authorities . Thus the danger of a schism appeared on the horizon.
On March 19 , 2014, in an interview with the newspaper "Corriere della Sera" Pope Francis stated that there was an exchange of correspondence between him and Xi Jinping and that the Holy See established contacts with the Chinese government. This created great expectations but also great concern. Are these expectations, be they positive or negative, based on facts or emotions? The Holy See's appointment of Cardinal Pietro Parolin as Secretary of State, appears positive, given his past diplomatic experience with China.
But the fact remains that the Chinese authorities, regardless of the few positive verbal comments , are still rigid in their position that it is "the Vatican that is in the wrong and needs to change its position". On the ground, restrictions are still in place for many bishops and priests; underground clergy are still forced to register; the demolition taking place in Zhejiang of crosses and churches ; the recent emphasis by the Public Security of the close link between terrorism and religion, and so on. The intention and the efforts of the Chinese authorities to keep religion under the full control of the government are clear and persistent. And on the question of relations between Rome and Beijing, the most open position that circulates among Chinese officials is to allow the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Vatican, but not allow it to interfere in any internal affair of the Church ( i.e only endorse relations between the two states, not recognizing the Vatican as the heart of the Catholic Church).
This being the situation, are hopes for a quick resolution of conflicts between the Church and the government in China through negotiations between Rome and Beijing , especially in respect of the election and ordination of bishops, based on rock or sand? Everyone hopes that an official channel between the Holy See and the Chinese government can be established to deal with the practical problems that arise . This is undoubtedly positive. But it must be done carefully and without haste with in order to negotiate high-level diplomatic relations . There are fundamental issues that must be resolved first, such as: fostering mutual trust ; explaining the true nature of the Vatican, which is not simply a small state , but the central See of the Universal Church; clarification the nature of the authority of the sacred ministry of bishops, which cannot be given by the people and the state, etc...
It should also be said that even if diplomatic recognition is attained, there are many serious problems in the Church in China at a grass roots level, such as reconciliation, Catholic education, cooperation, appropriate organization of dioceses, etc.., which [ diplomatic relations] cannot be resolve, because their solution depends only on the goodwill of individuals and their cooperation. It is necessary for them to be convinced and committed to the solution. Our hopes for a better future of the Church in China, if they are to be realistic , must be based on the work of conversion that the Holy Spirit carries out in the hearts of people. This is the rock: every human initiative must come from prayer , listening and acceptance of His guidance.
.png)
12/02/2016 15:14
21/08/2018 09:27
