Christians are being struck down in order to “educate” the entire Chinese population.
In Inner Mongolia, a violent campaign against the underground Church is underway, as the new changeover in China’s leadership takes place with Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang succeed Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.
This has led to the regime arresting dissidents, suppressing revolts and destroying the resistance in Tibet and Xinjiang.
Catholics and Protestants are among those paying the price in Inner Mongolia. “As a result of a series of priests being arrested, 30 thousand faithful are unable to go to mass, the seminary has been closed and students are forced to go home,” AsiaNews agency stated, mentioning that “the police has forced priests to take part in joint mass celebrations with the official bishop.”
The offensive against the Church is part of a security campaign ahead of the People’s National Assembly (due to take place on 5 March) which also aims to stop any potential social revolts.
At the national Assembly, a decision will be taken as to the succession of China’s current President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. For almost two decades, the community has been able to grow thanks to the relatively relaxed approach taken by the authorities.
They did not put up any obstacles as long as faithful met discreetly, in private houses or small buildings, the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) pointed out. Last 30 January, six priests were arrested during a rally. Among them was the rector of an illegal seminary, Fr. Giuseppe Ban Zhanxiong, whose seminary was closed on 14 February.
All students were forced to go home. On 31 January, the diocesan administrator, Fr. Gao Jiangping was also arrested, along with another priest. The approximately thirty priests who remained free all went into hiding to prevent being arrested.
As of 19 February, faithful have not been able to take part in any celebration because priests are avoiding coming out into the open, given the strong presence of security forces.
Meanwhile, four of the priests who were arrested on 30 January were set free, but they are still forced to report to the police station every day and are forced to attend indoctrination sessions on the government’s policy on religion, which almost amounts to brain washing.
“They were also forced to concelebrate mass in the presence of the official bishop of Hohhot, Mgr. Meng and two other priests from the official community,” AsiaNews said. “The two priests were forced to concelebrate against their wishes, remaining physically present without pronouncing one prayer or moving one little finger.”
For the Chinese government, the underground community and the diocese of Suiyuan do not exist: by order of the political authorities, its ecclesiastical territory was absorbed by the diocese of Hohhot during the ‘80s. The official community is made up of approximately 2000 faithful and as of April 2010, it has had a bishop, Mgr. Paolo Meng Qinglu, who is recognised by the government and the Holy See.
At the time of his ordination, Mgr. Meng had hoped for reconciliation with the underground Christian community. But he then took part in the illegal ordination in Chengde and was nominated Vice-President of the the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
It remains unclear as to whether it is for these reasons that he asked for forgiveness and reconciled himself with the Holy See. Meanwhile, in the space of just a few weeks, a number of priests have been arrested; others have had to go into hiding so as not to be captured; the dozens of communities that are spread across the area are unable to participate in the sacraments; many priests are forced to undergo brain washing sessions on religion policy; the seminary has been closed.
The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions attributes the worsening of the general political situation to the attempt to guarantee utmost security before the all important People’s National Assembly scheduled for 5 March.
“But there are also internal conflicts going on within the community, that are linked to the ambiguous status of the official bishop, Mgr. Paolo Meng Qinglu, who has received the approval of the Holy See, but is Vice-President of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, an entity that is “incompatible with Catholic doctrine”,” AsiaNews emphasised.
The underground Catholic community of the diocese of Suiyuan (Inner Mongolia) consists of approximately 30 thousand faithful, 35 priests and 90 nuns. Given its ambiguous position, many underground priests prefer not to join the official community and are asking the Vatican for clarifications.
The Vatican on the one hand affirms that the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association is “incompatible” with Catholic doctrine (because it wants to build a Church that is independent from Rome); on the other hand however, the Holy See accepts the compromise of a bishop who is bound to the Pope whilst still participating in the Association, even if he holds top roles within the organisation.