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Chinese Communists Step Up Persecution of True Catholic Church

Nov 15, 2019 Brian Kelly

Bitter Winter, Ye Ling: In its nationwide offensive to force Catholic conscientious objectors

Those Catholics, particularly priests and bishops, who refuse to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for reasons of conscience, although joining the Patriotic Association is both allowed and regulated by the Vatican Guidelines of 2019. The Guidelines, although not specifically encouraging this choice, declare it a legitimate option and ask other Catholics to “respect” it.

“>Catholic conscientious objectors to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association

CPCA, Patriotic Catholic Church, 中國天主教愛國會). Part of the red market, it was established in 1957 by Catholics loyal to the CCP as a government-controlled Catholic Church separated from the Vatican, which promptly excommunicated its leaders and declared it schismatic. After the Vatican-China Deal of 2018, the Vatican started considering the CPCA and the Underground Catholic Church as one and the same Chinese Catholic Church. The Vatican Guidelines of 2019 allow Catholics Bishops and priests to join the CPCA, if necessary by expressing orally or in writing reservations about the wording of the declarations they may nonetheless sign when joining. However, the same guidelines call for “respect” for those Catholic conscientious objectors who would refuse to join the CPCA.

“>Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA

Acronym of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

“>CPCA), the CCP

It stands for Chinese Communist Party, which from 1949 controls all social and political life in China. Members of CCP should in principle be self-proclaimed atheists. The ultimate goal of CCP is suppression of religion. However, how this goal is achieved has varied during time, and after Chairman Mao’s death the CCP has acknowledged that, notwithstanding its efforts, religions may survive in China for a long time.

“>CCP is shutting down noncompliant churches, retaliates against the clergy and congregations who refuse to become part of the state-run church. As per new reports, believers are also prohibited from organizing memorial services for deceased “rebellious” priests, and charitable organizations, set up by churches that are not under government’s control, are suppressed. Report here.