The Chinese Communist government has once again boldly promoted itself as the ultimate master of all things Chinese, including mainland religious affairs, with the ordering of three illicit consecrations (since November, 2010) of bishops having no papal mandate. The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association threatened in a statement by a spokesman on June 23 that the Association planned to do forty more ordinations to fill empty posts in as many dioceses without the pope’s approval. Meanwhile seven priests have already been “elected” for fill seven posts and they are slated to be consecrated soon, or, as the CCPA put the announcement, “when conditions are ripe.”
What Is Going On With the Vatican and China?
Many of our readers have asked what exactly is going on with the Vatican and China. Let’s just say that a policy of quid pro quo diplomacy was attempted with the hope that the Letter of the Holy Father to the Church in China in 2007 would have tempered the opposition’s hard line antagonism to the Catholic Church, which, by its nature, must be independent of secular control. Anyone who knows anything about Communist China should know that one cannot dialogue with a brutal atheistic power unless one is willing to concede more than one would gain. That is exactly what happened in this case. The Communists agreed to release a few underground bishops who were in prison if the Vatican would allow the government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association to nominate bishops. The pope was then supposed to approve of the candidate and provide a mandate for his consecration. So, after this agreement, a number of Patriotic Association member bishops, who had secretly submitted to Rome, were consecrated with the pope’s approval. A few old bishops who were released from prison were allowed to return to their dioceses, but they were already in ill health, and they found themselves under close surveillance. It has been over ten years since Rome has given permission for the consecration of a truly loyal Catholic bishop serving the “underground” persecuted Church. I believe that there are less than twenty underground bishops living. This, too, apparently, was one of the Vatican’s concessions, although it extends back to the last years of John Paul II.
Before summarizing the recent events surrounding the unfortunate usurpations of papal authority by the Communist-run Patriotic Association, we should remember to pray for all of those who are suffering for just causes in China’s prisons, such as Chen Guangcheng, who, with his courageous wife, have fought against the horrors of China’s one-child policy and forced abortions. He has been beaten so many times that his health is now in shambles.
Catholic bishops and priests who are still confined in unknown places of detention include Bishop Su Zhimin (arrested thirteen years ago) and Fathers Lu Genjun, Ma Wuyong, and Liu Honggeng of Baoding diocese in Hebei, Bishop Shi Enxiang of Yixian diocese in Hebei, as well as Fathers Chen Hailong of Xuanhua diocese and Li Huisheng of Xiwanzi diocese in Hebei. Let us pray, too, for (or should I say to) Bishop Peter Li Hongye, who spent twenty-eight consecutive years in a prison in the remote province of Qinghai, and then, after being consecrated bishop in 1987, several more arrests and short sentences came his way wreaking more havoc on his health. The Good Lord kept him alive and active until this past Easter when, at age ninety-one, he suffered a fatal heart attack while blessing the holy water for baptism during the Easter Vigil Mass.
The War Against the Authority of the Pope Resumes
The first attack on the pope’s unique and God-given authority to appoint his own bishops was in November, 2010, when Father Guo Jincai was illicitly ordained by legitimate (Vatican approved) bishops for the diocese of Chengde. Although Rome issued a protest and declared the participants, consecrators and consecrated, to be under the canonical penalty (#1382) of ipso facto excommunication, nothing much else was said. Dialogue continued in the hope that this would not happen again and that, by repentance, the wound would quickly be healed. That did not happen.
Two Illicit Consecrations in Two Weeks
The second affront to the authority of the Holy Father came on June 29. It was an egregious slap in the face on two counts. First of all, the police kidnapped Father Joseph Sun Jigen, who was to be consecrated with the papal mandate as co-adjutor to Bishop Stephen Yang Xiangtai, age eighty-nine, on June 29, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, for the diocese of Handan in Hebei province. The government sobjected to the date, which, they said, was too near that of July 1, the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China. Bishop Yang suffered a heart attack upon hearing about the kidnapping and is now in the hospital.
UCANews (July 11), however, reported that Father Sun was secretly consecrated three weeks prior to the scheduled “consecration.” Here is that clip: “Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Sun Jigen of Handan (Yongnian) was released back to his diocese in northern Hebei province, following which the diocese announced over the weekend that he was clandestinely ordained three weeks ago. The ordination rite with papal mandate was presided by Bishop Stephen Yang Xiangtai of Handan, 89, on June 21.” It appears that there is a clever strategy now being employed by the Vatican. The UCANews article says that Bishop Sun has returned to Handan, but he is being closely watched.
Second count, with no respect to the upcoming July 1 anniversary day, the CCPA had seven bishops, all Vatican-approved (i.e, legitimate) illicitly consecrate Father Paul Lei Shiyin for the diocese of Leshan on June 29. Bishop Johan Fang Xinyao, president of the CCPA was the principal consecrator. Bishop Lei is vice-chairman of the CCPA and is an advisor to to the government. He is a party man all the way, is publicly known not to be living a celibate life, and he stood no chance of ever receiving papal approval. Nevertheless, Archbishop Savio Hon, who in February was appointed Secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, sent Lei a letter pleading with him to do the right thing and cancel his plans. Hon was never answered. Reacting quickly, Archbishop Hon and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples issued the following warning.
Catholic Culture reports: The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is urging Catholics in China not to receive sacraments administered by Father Paul Lei Shiyin, who was illicitly consecrated Bishop of Leshan without a pontifical mandate, and by the seven bishops who consecrated him.
“By the very act of receiving episcopal ordination without the pontifical mandate, Father Lei has already incurred the latae sententiae [automatic] excommunication which is further ‘declared’ publicly by the Holy See,” the Congregation noted. Emphasizing that the Holy See “is the only place he can go for reconciliation,” the Congregation added that “he, though ordained bishop, has no power to govern the diocese. Thus, priests and faithful (except for grave cause, e.g., in point of death) should not only avoid receiving sacraments from him, but also keep him away from celebrating all forms of liturgy or ecclesial ceremony, and to suspend the liturgy or ceremony, in case he does not observe the prohibition.”
This followed on the heels of the Holy See’s first personal excommunication (nominatim, by name) ever of a Chinese bishop. More may be coming, once it is determined whether the co-consecrators participated without coercion. Here are the first two points of the Statement of the Holy See, which adjudicate the penalty.
With regard to the episcopal ordination of the Rev. Paul Lei Shiyin, which took place on Wednesday 29 June last and was conferred without the apostolic mandate, the following is stated:
1) Rev. Lei Shiyin, ordained without the Papal mandate and hence illegitimately, has no authority to govern the diocesan Catholic community, and the Holy See does not recognise him as the Bishop of the Diocese of Leshan. The effects of the sanction which he has incurred through violation of the norm of can. 1382 of the Code of Canon Law remain in place.
The same Rev. Lei Shiyin had been informed, for some time, that he was unacceptable to the Holy See as an episcopal candidate for proven and very grave reasons.
2) The consecrating Bishops have exposed themselves to the grave canonical sanctions laid down by the law of the Church (in particular, canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law; cf. Declaration of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts of 6 June 2011).
From the Vatican, 4 July 2011
The third illicit consecration occurred under mounting tension on July 14. The day prior to that Cardinal Zen and his successor, Bishop Tong of Hong Kong, issued two appeals for an end to these consecrations. Zen’s appeal was by way of an ad in a Hong Kong newspaper. It was addressed to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. He asked the two leaders to “take the time to care about our Catholics in China” and restrain “rogue civil servants who violate the state constitution, use violence to help the scum of the Church, and to force the mainland bishops, priests and laypeople to do things that go against their conscience. . . . God is merciful, but He cannot bless those who make life difficult for the people.” And, a few days before the scheduled consecration, four of the eight bishops summoned for the ordination were kidnapped and subjected to coercive intimidation. One of the summoned bishops, Mgr. Paul Pei Junmin of Shenyang, who was slated to be the main celebrant, received the physical protection of the priests of his diocese. A number of them moved into his house and, taking shifts, remained with him to guard him. Bishop Pei had been forced in November to participate in the consecration of Bishop Guo Jincai of Chengde. He was fortunate to escape this time, thanks to the bravery of his clergy.
So, the July 14 consecration of Father Joseph Huang Bingzhang as Bishop of Shantou (Guangdong) took place with eight legitimate bishops illicitly laying their hands upon him. One can add the name of Joseph Huang Bingzhang to that of Paul Lei Shiyin in the Vatican Statement of excommunication nominatim given above. What makes matters even worse in this violation of justice is that Shantou already has a Vatican-appointed bishop in Monsignor Peter Zhuang Jianjian. Bishop Zhuang had tried by letter and phone to persuade Father Huang not to go through with the consecration, but he was ignored.
It is important to remember that only those consecrating bishops who were coerced by force escape the ipso facto excommunication. And, even if a bishop was forced by some violence or threat, he must still appeal to Rome for forgiveness and make a public apology. The faithful, as pointed out in the declaration to the Church in China by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, must, except under danger of death, avoid participating in any way, liturgically, sacramentally, or in any Catholic ceremony with a publicly excommunicated prelate who continues to act ecclesially.
The following are two main points in the July 16 Statement of the Holy See in regard to the illicit consecration of Father Huang Bingzhang:
1) The Reverend Joseph Huang Bingzhang, having been ordained without papal mandate and hence illicitly, has incurred the sanctions laid down by canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law. Consequently, the Holy See does not recognize him as Bishop of the Diocese of Shantou, and he lacks authority to govern the Catholic community of the Diocese.
The Reverend Huang Bingzhang had been informed some time ago that he could not be approved by the Holy See as an episcopal candidate, inasmuch as the Diocese of Shantou already has a legitimate Bishop; Reverend Huang had been asked on numerous occasions not to accept episcopal ordination.
2) From various sources the Holy See had knowledge of the fact that some Bishops, contacted by the civil authorities, had expressed their unwillingness to take part in an illicit ordination and also offered various forms of resistance, yet were reportedly obliged to take part in the ordination.
With regard to this resistance, it should be noted that it is meritorious before God and calls for appreciation on the part of the whole Church. Equal appreciation is also due to those priests, consecrated persons and members of the faithful who have defended their pastors, accompanying them by their prayers at this difficult time and sharing in their deep suffering.
It’s a War
Cardinal Joseph Zen, now that he is retired from episcopal duties in Hong Kong, has been on a mission to set the record straight concerning the situation of the Church in China. When he was here in the United States in April to address Washington, D.C.’s Hudson Institute his words at a press conference were critical, even of the Vatican.
“Recently, unfortunately the people in the Congregation for Evangelization even followed a wrong policy, the wrong strategy – which is the old ‘Ostpolitik,’” he observed. “This policy of Ostpolitik – which is compromise at any cost, to please the government always, to always avoid confrontation – led to the present situation, the events at the end of November and the beginning of December,” Cardinal Zen said. Continuing:
“In November of 2010, the Chinese government ordained a bishop without the approval of the Holy See, at a ceremony in which several bishops loyal to Rome were reportedly forced to participate. In December, police officers rounded up a large number of bishops and escorted them to a state-sponsored meeting of an unauthorized “bishops’ conference.”
“It is no more our Church,” Cardinal Zen lamented. “They carried out one more illegitimate ordination, and then they had a big assembly which is completely against the doctrine of the Church. It was like a slap in the face of the Holy Father.”
Zen gave a similar overview in an interview on April 7 with EWTN. Here he was even more forceful. The Vatican policy, he said, has “frustrated the underground Church,” which has been made to feel “inconvenient” and “forsaken.” He went to great pains to show how the pope’s Open Letter to the Church in China of 2007 was “wrongly interpreted.” Some had the impression that they were being asked to come out and unite with the open Patriotic Church, which, they knew would amount to a betrayal of their Faith and loyalty to Christ’s Vicar. Without naming names the cardinal did go so far as to complain about a certain “Triumvirate” in Rome who were frustrating the plan of Pope Benedict by pursuing a policy of “compromise at any cost.” “That wrong interpretation said that the Holy Father wants everybody to come into the open,’” the cardinal explained. “This is not true at all.” Although the Patriotic Association contains many bishops in communion with Rome, Pope Benedict warned “underground” bishops to be careful in approaching it.
“The Holy Father cautioned people in the underground,” Cardinal Zen pointed out. “Because when you want to come out, the letter says: in no few instances, indeed almost always, the government will impose conditions which are not acceptable to the Catholic conscience.”
Cardinal Zen also met privately with Speaker of the House John Boehner on April 6. “I was deeply honored,” the Speaker said, “to welcome Cardinal Zen to the Capitol today. During our meeting, I thanked His Eminence for his courage and for the sacrifices he has made for the cause of religious freedom, and told him he has my unequivocal support for his work on behalf of the Church in support of religious liberty for all people,”
Just a week ago, four days before the illicit consecration of Father Huang, the cardinal was back again in the United States for an event at the National Basilica. His mission was to visit certain Chinese Catholic communities in the United States and Canada to assess them of the situation. According to Rorate Caeli website, during a sermon that he delivered as the previously unscheduled celebrant for the 9:00 AM traditional Latin Mass in Old Saint Mary’s Church in Washington DC, Zen called the national church bishops “illegitimate” and said the entire national church “has no courage” and do not understand how great martyrdom is. He also said they are selling out to the government now that it is flush with cash.
In a press conference on July 14 in New York, called after the third illicit consecration, Cardinal Zen punctuated three words in characterizing the current standoff between the Vatican and Beijing: “It’s a war.”
The Looming Storm
Pope Benedict XVI was well aware before the illicit consecration of the bishop of Chengde last November that storm clouds were looming ominously over the horizon for the Church in China. On September 12, 2010, the Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives, summoned by the government through the CCPA, was held in defiance of Rome’s objections. Many papally-approved bishops were rounded up and forced to attend this fiasco with its fixed elections. More intelligence of a possible tidal wave of schismatic consecrations was coming to the Holy Father’s attention as the year 2011 progressed. This dire scenario led the pope on May 18 to call upon the universal Church and the Chinese faithful to offer up prayers on May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, which is officially a papally-established annual Day of Prayer for the Church in China.
Pray for the Church in China, he pleaded, a country where Christ is “rejected, ignored or persecuted,” the bishops of that country who are “suffering” so “their desire to stay in the one and Universal Church overcome the temptation of a path independent of Peter “and to” enlighten those who are in doubt, recall those who are lost, comfort the afflicted, strengthen those who are ensnared by the false flattery of opportunism.” He reminded the faithful and their shepherds, who should have been listening, that the Catholics of China “have a right to our prayers; they need our prayers.”
We Can Still Include China in Our Daily Prayers
When Archbishop Savio Hon called upon the loyal Catholic in China to be strong and not to fear doing the right thing, and when we, too, encourage them to do so from our own comfort zones, we are placing an obligation upon ourselves to do something extraordinary for our brothers and sisters who are in the heat of the battle. We have a duty to send them weapons. Those weapons are our Masses, our rosaries, our sacrifices, and our good deeds.
It is sad that, as far as I know, with the exception of the beautiful Catholics and the bishops of Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Italy, no country, no conference of bishops, no diocese rallied to the pope’s request to pray for China on May 24. The earnest plea of the Vicar of Christ went, with local exceptions to be sure, unheeded.
May Our Lady Help of Christians save her children and the Church in China,
