The eighth National
Assembly of Catholic Representatives in China began in Beijing on
Tuesday afternoon at the Friendship Hotel, in the city’s Haidian
district.
Its high-sounding goal is “to support patriotism and
independent Church principles, resist outside forces and unite all
clergy and Catholics to walk the path of socialist society.”
In Chinese Communist terminology, “independence” means
autonomy and separation from Rome.
“Outside forces” refer to the
Vatican and the Holy See, which exercising their Ecclesial ministry, are
guilty of “undue colonial influence” on the Chinese Church, this
according to the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA).
CCPA vice president Liu Bainian chaired the assembly’s
opening session. Bishop Fang Xinyao of Linyi (Shandong) delivered the
opening address; Bishop Ma Yinglin of Kunming (Yunnan) read a report on
the association’s activities; Bishop Zhan Silu of Mindong (Fujian)
explained the revisions to the constitutions of the CCPA and the
Bishops’ Conference.
Both Ma and Zhan were unlawfully ordained in 2006
and 2000 respectively.
In his Letter to Chinese Catholics, Benedict XVI said
that the CCPA and the Bishops’ Conference as well as the Assembly of
Catholic Representatives are organisations whose purpose is
“irreconcilable” with the Catholic faith.
For this reason, the Vatican
back in March told Chinese prelates not to attend the event.
For the past four years, the Assembly has had to be
postponed because official bishops had refused to participate, following
directives from the Holy See.
According to China’s State Administration for
Religious Affairs (SARA), 341 people from 31 provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities are "nominated or invited members" at the
assembly.
They include 64 bishops, 162 priests, 24 nuns and 91
laypeople.
It is unclear whether the number 64 refers to bishops invited
or actually present.
As AsiaNews has already reported, a number of
bishops have gone into hiding or called in sick to avoid being dragged
to Beijing.
Others have been forcibly taken by government officials.
Some, knowing that they could not refuse, came on their own but have
refused to concelebrate Masses because of the presence of excommunicated
bishops.
Zhu Weiqun of the United Front’s Work Department, Wang
Zuo’an, SARA chief, and Jiang Yongjian, SARA vice director were present
at the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Wang praised the Communist
Party and government for the respect they show to the Catholic religion
and the interests of Chinese Catholics. Leaders of Protestant, Buddhist,
Taoist and Muslim organizations were also present.
In Hong Kong, members of the Catholic Justice and
Peace Commission staged a protest outside China’s Liaison Office.
Demonstrators stressed that the three-day assembly violates Catholic
Canon Law and undermines the freedom and normal operation of the
Catholic Church.
They also noted that Chinese authorities had to use
violence and pressure to coerce bishops and lay people into coming,
holding some in isolation or taking them into custody, violating the
religious freedom and rights of Chinese Catholics.
The commission called for the release of detained
clergymen, including Baoding’s Bishop Su Zhimin, Father Lu Genjun,
Father Ma Wuyong and Father Liu Honggeng, as well as Bishop Shi Enxiang
of Yixian.
SIC: AN/INT'L