Sunday, October 25, 2009

‘Underground’ priests still missing after months

The whereabouts of three “underground” priests in northern China, detained by police months ago, are still unknown while another has apparently been persuaded to join the “open” Church, say sources.

Fathers Liu Jianzhong, Zhang Cunhui and Zhong Mingchang of Xuanhua diocese were taken away by plainclothes police on June 8, June 14 and Sept. 16 respectively, UCA News reports.

Local Church sources said that when the priests’ family members went to government departments to enquire about them, the authorities denied detaining them and refused family requests to help locate them.

Meanwhile, Fr Simon Zhang Jianlin, who was taken by police in July, is under house arrest in a county government building. Sources say he has been “brainwashed” and has been persuaded to join the Catholic Patriotic Association, but he is allowed to receive visitors in the premises.

Sources said that other underground priests of the same diocese are also under pressure to join the government approved Church and are under strict surveillance by local authorities.

They explained that about half of the 40 or so underground priests of Xuanhua diocese have registered with the government to obtain special “priest cards” which allow them to work openly under government regulations. However, they continue to follow the leadership of underground Bishop Thomas Zhao Kexun of Xuanhua.

In a bid to forge unity between the two Church communities, late underground Bishop Zhao Zhendong in 2000 allowed three priests from the open community, who underwent priestly formation in government-sanctioned seminaries, to work under him. He ordered the cancellation of all private worship venues in his diocese and encouraged his laypeople to attend churches registered with the government.

Meanwhile, Fr Joseph Cai Guixi of the same diocese appeared in court Oct. 20. This was after police arrested him in September on a charge of dangerous driving which allegedly caused the death of a priest and a Catholic couple in September 2008.

Catholics hope the case would be settled out of court in consideration of Fr Cai’s health, as he was severely injured in the accident. They believe that government officials might press him to join the open Church.
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SIC: CTHAS