Reports: Authorities Detain ‘Underground’ Chinese Priests and Laymen
- Posted on August 24, 2011 at 7:51am by
Billy Hallowell
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Father John Baptist Wang Ruohan of the Tianshui diocese's underground community
BEIJING (The Blaze/AP) — Religious freedom is under attack in China — or so it seems. Now, a number of priests and laymen in China‘s underground Catholic church have been detained in the country’s northwest in a struggle over the appointment of a new bishop, overseas reports said Wednesday.
Earlier this summer, The Blaze reported on the Chinese government’s decision to ignore the Vatican and self-appoint bishops. Then, in July, we brought you the story of a Christian pastor who was sentenced to time in a labor camp for organizing “illegal” religious gatherings. These newfound arrests are the latest chapter in the nation’s quest to curb “unofficial” church activity.
Catholic news agencies AsiaNews and ucanews said security officials rounded up men from the underground community in the city of Tianshui over the weekend. They are being held separately and are required to attend political study sessions for four hours each day, they said.
However, an official with the local government’s Religious Affairs Bureau said the men were merely taking part in a routine training session. ”There was definitely no detention at all,” said the man, who refused to give his name because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.
AsiaNews and ucanews said the actions appeared to be aimed at persuading the men to support the official candidate to fill the bishop’s seat in Tianshui.
China has no formal relations with the Vatican and insists on the right to appoint its own bishops in defiance of Rome. Underground and government-recognized Catholic communities exist in tandem in China, with priests and laymen often moving between the two. Ucanews has more about the underground church:
With about 15 priests, Tianshui’s diocese’s underground community, which has no affiliation with the government-sanctioned “open” Church, has maintained a peaceful relationship with government officials in recent years
But, the shakeup of this formerly peaceful existence may be a result of the rise in recent tensions between the Vatican and Beijing. Abandoning an informal arrangement in which it had cooperated with Rome on appointing bishops, China has moved to unilaterally filling empty seats, sometimes with priests who have been rejected outright by the Vatican.
Rome has called on Chinese Catholics to resist such moves, while Beijing has accused the Vatican of disrespect and gross interference in the country’s internal affairs and placed underground priests under increasing pressure to join the official Catholic Patriotic Association.
In the case of Tianshui, which is in Gansu province, the bishop’s seat has been vacant since its previous occupant, Zhao Jinglong, died in 2004, AsiaNews said. Zhao’s nephew, Zhao Jianzhang, has been acting bishop and has been nominated by the official church to formally take over the position.
However, he faces competition for the loyalty of parishioners from the administrator of the underground community, Wang Ruohan, who along with his brother, Wang Ruowang, and retired bishop Wang Milu were among the priests being detained, it said.
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don young
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 11:41amGOD fearing people want peace but dont let the chinese government find out they dont want GOD in there country.
Report Post »mareseatoats
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 12:02pmChina is a closed society and we cannot believe the spin that comes out of this country. With over a billion people they have to take over another country, just to hold their expanding population. China is beefing up their military…Why?
Report Post »AmericablessGod
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 7:26amHere we see what has been happening in the world for 2,000 years. Christians persecuted for practicing their faith and following Christ.
Our Lord promised this to his followers – that they would have to “pick up your cross and follow me”. Also, that this persecution is a blessing – “Blessed are you when men should revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Mt. 5: 11-12).
It is a shame that the MSM fails to report or acknowledge these practices. They seem to side with the atheistic communistic governments (which ours is moving towards) instead of faithful followers of God.
The Catholic Church and other Christian faiths, in spite of these obstacles are growing rapidly in places like China and Africa due to the perseverance of brave and faithful priests, missionaries, and other believers. May the Lord bless them and protect them so they may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Amen.
Report Post »RomanCatholic99
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 9:40pmEvery one who really cares about the roman catholic church in china shoul go to this site, http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/didyouknow/DidYouKnow.htm
Report Post »philipzhao
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:20pmBuddhists and Taoists are not persecuted. Why ?
Report Post »123456beatriz
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:11amThey are also pursued. Do you remember Tibet?. Marx was clear “The religion is the Opium of the citizens”, so this miserable racist of Marx was enemy of any religion, so. China follows the leader.
Report Post »And here in America the liberals are trying to destroy Christianity and Judaism. SO….
America be aware!….stop the liberals extremists
Centralsville
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 2:08pmThis is what happens in a communist country. Communism is what happens when the left takes complete control over a country. The left is never about freedom or the good of the people, they are only about control.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:53amYes, and they are NOT cannibal Catholics, praise His name. (Cannibal Catholics were formerly known as “cafeteria Catholics” but the name was changed when someone aptly pointed out that at a cafeteria, one can get some sort of nourishment, Cannibals feed on the dead. Catholics who pick and choose what doctrine they can live with and discard the rest are like vegans that enjoy a rare steak every Friday at the Stake and Shake.)
Report Post »OneofMany
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 1:43pmThere are now more Christians in China than in ALL of the United States! Last estimated count :300 million PLUS.
Report Post »compatriotshonor
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 12:56pmIn the near future, if the united states continue to pander to the progressives here, your going to see the samr thing here on our lands accross america, as is reported from china, a STATE RAN RELIGION.
Report Post »George wallis, maybe even rev. jeramia wright, obama’s religious mentors would have a field day over such state ran religions.
I am not religious at all, believing in the real light of creation, but I and many others accross this great nation will stand and fight for all religious institutions, even if I personally don’t care for them to begin with, I will stand with them, for it is the first amendment that will be attacked if it does.
May the light of creation back me up and stand against those entitys, that wants to shut me up and the churches accross this country, AMEN!
This_Individual
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 11:51amCommunists are inherantly anti-religion. Total devotion to the state or “people” is all that matters to them.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 11:09amWe cannot fathom what their captivity is like…its one thing to have commited and evil crime and been sentenced to prison for it, but serving your God does not deserve to be locked up or mistreated in any way. However in the last days, we will be persecuted for our beliefs, given over to courts, flogged, imprisoned and or killed. Its happening all over the world at record levels and is increasing. It is est that 50 mil Christians have been martyred in the last century.
Report Post »Thun
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 11:02amA wonderful story about a Vietnamese Priest arrested by his Communist captors who spent 13 years in prison, nine of them in solitary confinement. He was arrested in 1975 on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady and while incarcerated he prayed for his release, saying this prayer to Mary: “Mary, my Mother, if you know that I cannot be of any more use to the Church, grant me the grace to die here in prison and consummate my sacrifice. If you know that I can still be of use to the Church, grant me the grace of freedom on one of your feast days”. He was released on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2003/may2003p10_1322.html
I pray to this future Saint everyday for the consecration of China.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 11:00amCommunist China has been detaining members of the Underground Cathilics for many years.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 9:14amMy guess is Joe Biden isn’t “second guessing” it.
Report Post »quickstudy
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 9:24amYes, Joe likely “understands”.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 9:12amI just finished reading a very good novel about the underground persecuted church in China. “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn. It centers around the suffering Chinese Christians endure but also speaks of their very strong faith. May we, in the U.S., stand as strong when He calls on us to suffer for our faith.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 9:23amAnd the time is not too far away, I fear. Look at all the attacks (though only verbal) that we get from the Muslims and Atheists. You’d think if the Atheists were going to attack religion, they would attack all religions, including Muslims. Apparently they’re ok with them. Maybe that‘s because they don’t worship the true God?
Report Post »gdoggie
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:56amIn Communism There Is Only One True God The State
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:31amThe Chinese are our second biggest enemy in the world. Our primary enemy is our current government who is destroying everything. They are destroying the dollar through profligate spending and money printing, destroying business (and jobs) through regulation and taxation, and because of these destroying freedom. How free do you think you’ll be without any money or a job? http://guerillatics.com
Report Post »louise
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:12amThis is a must read for all American Christians. If you think that the foundation is not laid here in our own country for a “state-church”, you must read this.
http://newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin662.htm
God bless God’s True Church all over the world, wherever my brothers and sisters are living.
Report Post »truthncharity
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:59amAmen. Here’s another one that will stomp your toes to wake you up; call it like it is; truth is truth.
http://www.ptsalt.com/commentaries/122-august-18-2011.html
Report Post »thinkinghuman
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 12:02pmBaldwin is asking for MONEY. Its all about money. Whether in a “corporation” which he is condemning (even though JESUS said render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars”, or whether it be an individual taking funds as PERSONAL income then, if he is avoiding the non profit corporation status, then he is taking money directly from people to his POCKETS. I don’t see how this is the true church at all.
Report Post »louise
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 5:23pmThinkinghuman,
People have the right to choose to do as they wish with what money they have or are given. Some choose to take money given to them in faith by strangers and blow it on themselves. So what is new about the nature of man separated from God…? But I would not put Baldwin in that group.
I also want to respond to your comment about “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God that which is God’s. My understanding of this means that since God created all things, then all things are His. So all that we are, and all that we have is really God’s, isn’t it? Just like our Lord said, ” As for you, go and sell all that you have and come, follow Me.”
It is sad that man has made “it all about money” as you say. Money is nothing more than a measurement of value in this world. Here is what our Lord has to say about value: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:06amThere is a glaring lack of coverage of the persecution of Christians throughout the world. This is especially true of Catholics in China. You can bet if it had been Muslims who were treated like this the MSM would be decrying the treatment nightly, but the MSM dislikes the Catholic Church for its stance on abortion and gay marriage,m so it doesn’t seem to be bothered when it is persecuted or other Christian or Jewish demoninations either. Our president has not come out to forcefully condemn such treatment either.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:42amCatholics in China? How about other Christian denominations? I wonder if you realize the growth of the church in China or the persecution they have continually faced? It is the hot-spot of Christianity today and ironically, Chinese missionaries are now going into Muslim countries to their West in great numbers completing the Christian movement around the globe! It has come full circle, back to the middle east.
Report Post »lemmings4obama
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 11:53amYes, please help support them. http://www.persecution.com
Report Post »nannyatnannydotgov
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 8:00amEvil is rearing it’s ugly head all over the world.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 7:57amWhen did it stop? China has always persecuted the Christian Church. As long as they are communist they will never stop persecuting their people. But keep praying and God will hear and stop it in His own good time.
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