The great maneuvers towards the normalization of diplomatic relationships between the Holy See and Beijing are beginning, and Rome looks resolute in resuming control of the Catholic Church in China. Eight bishops of the “underground” Catholic Church, the one that for decades has been loyal to the Vatican and against the Communist government, are under review and might risk excommunication for having acted against the directions of the Pope’s letter on China issued this past June.
Some bishops in the Gansu and Hebei province, in particular, are at risk for allegedly carrying with ordaining priests without full communication with Rome.
The Pope’s letter cancelled the state of emergency of the Chinese Church that was granted in the 1980s because of situation of duress of the local catholic clergy.
The state of emergency allowed more freedom of action and initiative to bishops and clergymen, permitting them to ordain bishops and priests of the underground Church without the consent of Rome.Xinhua reported that on December 18th evening Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, presided the second plenary politburo meeting after the Congress and it centered on religious issues.
Hu gave a positive assessment of religion about its role for a harmonious society and stressed that the Party should pay greater attention in the positive contribution of religion in economic and social development.
Catholics in China are divided into an underground Church, which did not want to register with the state’s organizations, and an official one, organized within the Patriotic Catholic Association (PCA).
According to Chinese catholic sources loyal to the Holy See, the inquiry indicates that the preparation for the normalization of the ties could be quite advanced and the Vatican is working already to shed light on the actual situation of many bishops and priests of the underground Church, which lived for nearly 60 years in a semi-clandestine condition.
The Pope’s letter, however, eliminates this state of emergency, therefore declaring implicitly that there are no more persecutions or communication difficulties with Rome, and offers an important political acknowledgment to the People's Republic of China.
A rapprochement between Rome and Beijing appears also from the ordaining of Beijing’s bishop, Li Shan, in September, who was chosen together by the two parties and the selection of new bishops after that.
These appointments are signs that channels between Rome and Beijing are working smoothly.
The inquiry is also connected with to a second aspect of the letter. According to one interpretation of the message, within the Easter period of 2008, the underground Church must come to the open and register with the Chinese authorities.
Some bishops and priests oppose this interpretation. In fact, the issue of official registration is ambiguous as the Holy See does not specify its terms.
Chinese authorities want bishops and priest to register with the Patriotic Association, a semi-governmental body highly controversial for Rome.
The Vatican denies any religious role of the PCA, however it is open to admit its civil role. The Underground Church, who had been confronting officials fro PCA for decades, would want to register directly with the Office of Religious Affairs, the competent government body supervising also the PCA, or not register at all.
Here again there are margin of ambiguities as at least in one case, for the district of Fengxian, the bishop was been able to skip the PCA and sign up directly with the local Office of Religious Affairs. Yet, Beijing may not want to broaden the exceptions.
It is an administrative problem: the Patriotic Association enrolls about 10,000 people who might have to find a new role after the normalization and cannot simply be fired.These people have been loyal to Beijing for decades.
They are insiders to the organization of the state, where they have friends and relatives, and the government does not intend to betray them and turn its back to them.
Moreover, Rome’s intention to clarify the situation with the underground Church probably also opens a hot new chapter with the official Church. Some “official” bishops and priests may have grave moral issues, they are rumored to have had wives and sons and daughters.
A final decision on the normalization of the diplomatic relations has not yet been taken. There remains, still, the mutual distrust that generates suspicion on the true intentions of the other part. Moreover, there are two centers of influence with no interest in normal ties.
From the Chinese government’s side, a wing of the PCA is opposing because it would lose its freedom, it would have to be under stricter review from Beijing and Rome. At the moment, Beijing exercises a mild control over the PCA, and Rome does not exercise any.
Against it is also a part of the underground Church for analogous reasons.
Today, adducing the communication difficulties, it answers little to Rome and nothing to Beijing, because it does not recognize its political authority. With the normalization of relationships it should meet demands from both.
Actually, the PCA as such has fully resumed its contacts with Rome, which had been more fragile in past years, and some members of the underground Church have kept in touch with the authorities for a full legalization.
Last July, during a government meeting, in the presence of many ministers, the head of PCA Liu Bainian invited the Pope to visit China after the normalization of diplomatic ties.
More time could be necessary in order to create a broad consensus for normalization on the two sides.
But there is not much time.
Beijing can have an interest in the establishment of diplomatic relations before the Olympic games, beginning next August 8th.
Interest could wane if things were to drag for too long.
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