Taiwan Church expresses hope after president’s election victory

(January 16, 2013) Church leaders in Taiwan said to Monday the re-election of President Ma Ying-jeou in the national polls over the weekend could strengthen Church relations between mainland China and Taiwan during his second term in office. Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan of Taipei, president of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, said Ma’s victory could prove beneficial to fostering greater development and exchange by assisting in the formation of mainland clergy and enhancing communications between the Holy See and the mainland. Meanwhile, local Church officials hope that Ma, who won his re-election bid on a platform that emphasized clean government, stability and peaceful relations with the mainland, would do more to ease the burdens of parishioners at home. Sister Stephana Wei Wei, director of the Jesuit-run Rerum Novarum Center, which provides economic and legal relief for migrant workers and other underprivileged groups, said she hopes that Ma will take a more proactive approach to poverty alleviation, a more just distribution of wealth and improve development. “We cannot rely only on donations from the public or the benevolence of rich people,” she said.