Cardinal Shan says Catholics freely choose between DPP and KMT
Kaohsiung (AsiaNews) State Chinese media have censured the largest demonstration in Taiwanese history, taking place this past Feb. 28, in which President Chen Shui-bian asked citizens to form a "Great Wall of Democracy".
No web site or chat-room in China mentioned the mass protest. CNN news coverage of the event was cut off. Yet, the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) web site reported the events of another demonstration of the same day, organized by the Kuomintang (KMT) or the pro-China opposition partly.
Meanwhile, attacks and problems continue to occur between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) currently in power and the KMT as the country's presidential election campaigns peak.
Yesterday, Li Ao, a historian and writer who is very critical of the government, accused Kaohsiung's mayor (Frank Hsieh Chang-ting), the DPP and the state of having called a referendum on Taiwan's independence in concurrence with presidential elections so as to win a larger numbers of votes they wouldn't have had gained otherwise.
To see how Catholics in Taiwan view the current state of politics, AsiaNews asked the opinion of the archbishop of Kaohsiung and president of the Taiwanese Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, during a brief telephone interview.
Your Eminence, how are Taiwanese Catholics and the Church dealing with the delicate issue of the presidential elections?
The Church, in itself, does not belong to any political party nor does it root for one or the other party. It has no preference. There is no unanimous position held by all Catholics. Some support the DPP, others the KMT party. The Church allows faithful to choose for themselves when voting, an expression of their own free will.
What did you think of Chen Shuibian's organization of a human chain extending the length of the entire island?
There were two demonstrations going on that day one organized by the party in government and the other by its opposition. I think the main goal was to acquire a consensus at election time, to try a win a large number of votes.
Did Catholics participate in the demonstration?
Bishops did not get involved, but Christians and Catholics participated in both protests.
What is the Church's position as well as that of Catholics concerning Taiwan-China relations?
There is a great need for reconciliation and dialog. We all hope for peaceful coexistence. (MR)
.png)
