Vatican: Good bishops and a formed laity for China
China needs a deeply formed Catholic laity, called to offer their own contribution
in wider society; it needs priests and religious men and women who give "luminous
evangelical witness", it needs "good bishops". But the evangelization of China "
cannot be achieved by sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic faith and discipline".
Listen:
These
were the conclusions of the Commission for the Church in China, following the 5th
annual meeting here in the Vatican contained in a lengthy statement released April
26th.
The Commission was created by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, out
of his particular concern for the life of the Church in the country. Last year it
focused on the formation of priests and religious. This year, with one eye on the
upcoming Year of Faith, the Commission, composed of Dicastery heads and bishops, priests
and religious directly involved in the life of the Church in China, tackled the question
of formation for the laity.
But it also addressed the more difficult issues
that the Catholic community in the country face, from the claim of " entities " to
" place themselves above the Bishops and to guide the life of the ecclesial community",
to the question of illegitimate Episcopal ordinations, the detention of some priests
and bishops, the limits imposed on others in the exercise of their pastoral mission.
“The
Church needs good bishops”.
The statement goes on to express “admiration
for the strength of faith” and loyalty of those detained and restricted for their
fidelity to the Pope. At the same time it denounces other bishops who have recently
participated in the illegitimate ordinations of candidates without the Pope’s approval.
The Commission says these actions not only puts their canonical status at risk, they
disturb the Catholic community and also put consciences at risk.
"The challenges
of the situation impel the faithful to invoke the Lord of the harvest and to strengthen
the awareness that each priest and woman religious, faithful and luminous in their
evangelical witness, are the primary sign still capable of encouraging today’s young
men and women to follow Christ with undivided heart”.
Finally, the Commission
recalls that this upcoming 24 May, the liturgical memorial of the “Blessed Virgin
Mary, Help of Christians” and the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, will provide
a particularly auspicious opportunity for the entire Church to ask for energy and
consolation, mercy and courage, for the Catholic community in China”.
Below
a Statement of the Press Office of the Holy See on the Plenary Meeting of the Commission
for the Catholic Church in China
The Commission which Pope Benedict
XVI established in 2007 to study questions of major importance regarding the life
of the Catholic Church in China met in the Vatican for the fifth time from 23 to 25
April.
With deep spiritual closeness to all brothers and sisters in the faith
living in China, the Commission recognized the gifts of fidelity and dedication which
the Lord has given to his Church throughout the past year.
The participants
examined the theme of the formation of the lay faithful, in view also of the “Year
of Faith” which the Holy Father has announced will be held from 11 October 2012 to
24 November 2013. The words of the Gospel, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature
and in favour with God and man” (Lk 2:52), set out the task to which the Catholic
lay faithful in China are called.
In the first place, they must enter ever
more deeply into the life of the Church, nourished by doctrine, conscious of their
being part of the Catholic Church, and consistent with the requirements of life in
Christ, which necessitates hearing the word of God with faith. From this perspective,
a profound knowledge of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be a particularly
important aid for them.
In the second place, lay Catholics are called to take
part in civic life and in the world of work, offering their own contribution with
full responsibility: by loving life and respecting it from conception until natural
death; by loving the family, promoting values which are also proper to traditional
Chinese culture; by loving their country as honest citizens concerned for the common
good. As an ancient Chinese sage put it, “the way of great learning consists in illustrating
noble virtues, in renewing and staying close to people, and in reaching the supreme
good.”
Thirdly, the lay faithful in China must grow in grace before God and
men, by nourishing and perfecting their own spiritual life as active members of the
parish community and by involving themselves in the apostolate, also with the help
of associations and Church movements which foster their ongoing formation.
In
this regard, the Commission noted with joy that the proclamation of the Gospel by
Catholic communities, which are sometimes poor and without material resources, encourages
many adults to request baptism every year. It was thus emphasized that the Dioceses
in China should promote a serious catechumenate, adopt the Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults, and care for their formation after Baptism as well. Pastors, both Bishops
and priests, should make every effort to consolidate the lay faithful in their knowledge
of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, and in particular of ecclesiology
and the social doctrine of the Church. Moreover, it will be useful to dedicate special
solicitude to the preparation of pastoral workers dedicated to evangelization, catechesis
and works of charity. The integral formation of lay Catholics, above all in those
places where rapid social evolution and significant economic development are occurring,
is part of a commitment to make the local Church vibrant and thriving. Finally, an
adequate response to the phenomenon of internal migration and urbanization is to be
hoped for.
Practical indications, which the Holy See has proposed and will
propose to the universal Church for a fruitful celebration of the “Year of Faith”,
will undoubtedly be heeded with enthusiasm and with a creative spirit also in China.
These suggestions will stimulate the Catholic community to find adequate initiatives
to put into practice what Pope Benedict XVI has written regarding the lay faithful
and the family in his Letter of 27 May 2007 to the Catholic Church in the People’s
Republic of China (cf. Letter to the Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Persons and
Lay Faithful of the Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China, 15-16).
The
lay faithful, therefore, are called to participate with apostolic zeal in the evangelization
of the Chinese people. By virtue of their baptism and confirmation, they receive from
Christ the grace and the task to build up the Church (cf. Eph 4:1-16).
In
the course of the Meeting, attention then focussed on the Pastors, in particular on
Bishops and priests who are detained or who are suffering unjust limitations on the
performance of their mission. Admiration was expressed for the strength of their faith
and for their union with the Holy Father. They need the Church’s prayer in a special
way so as to face their difficulties with serenity and in fidelity to Christ.
The
Church needs good Bishops. They are a gift of God to his people, for the benefit of
whom they exercise the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing. They are also
called to provide reasons for life and hope to all whom they meet. They receive from
Christ, through the Church, their task and authority, which they exercise in union
with the Roman Pontiff and with all the Bishops throughout the world.
Concerning
the particular situation of the Church in China, it was noted that the claim of the
entities, called “One Association and One Conference”, to place themselves above the
Bishops and to guide the life of the ecclesial community, persists. In this regard,
the instructions given in the Letter of Pope Benedict XVI (cf. Letter to the Bishops,
Priests, Consecrated Persons and Lay Faithful of the Catholic Church in the People’s
Republic of China, 7), remain current and provide direction. It is important to
observe them so that the face of the Church may shine forth with clarity in the midst
of the noble Chinese people.
This clarity has been obfuscated by those clerics
who have illegitimately received episcopal ordination and by those illegitimate Bishops
who have carried out acts of jurisdiction or who have administered the Sacraments.
In so doing, they usurp a power which the Church has not conferred upon them. In recent
days, some of them have participated in episcopal ordinations which were authorized
by the Church. The behaviour of these Bishops, in addition to aggravating their canonical
status, has disturbed the faithful and often has violated the consciences of the priests
and lay faithful who were involved.
Furthermore, this clarity has been obfuscated
by legitimate Bishops who have participated in illegitimate episcopal ordinations.
Many of these Bishops have since clarified their position and have requested pardon;
the Holy Father has benevolently forgiven them. Others, however, who also took part
in these illegitimate ordinations, have not yet made this clarification, and thus
are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
The participants in the Plenary
Meeting follow these painful events with attention and in a spirit of charity. Though
they are aware of the particular difficulties of the present situation, they recall
that evangelization cannot be achieved by sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic
faith and discipline. Obedience to Christ and to the Successor of Peter is the presupposition
of every true renewal and this applies to every category within the People of God.
Lay people themselves are sensitive to the clear ecclesial fidelity of their own Pastors.
With
regard to priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, the Commission reflected once
again on the importance of their formation, rejoicing in the sincere and praiseworthy
commitment to provide not only suitable programmes of human, intellectual, spiritual
and pastoral formation for the seminarians, but also times of ongoing formation for
priests. In addition, appreciative mention was made of the initiatives which are being
undertaken by various female religious institutes to coordinate formation activities
for consecrated persons.
It was noted, on the other hand, that the number
of vocations to the priestly and religious life has noticeably declined in recent
years. The challenges of the situation impel the faithful to invoke the Lord of the
harvest and to strengthen the awareness that each priest and woman religious, faithful
and luminous in their evangelical witness, are the primary sign still capable of encouraging
today’s young men and women to follow Christ with undivided heart.
Finally,
the Commission recalls that this upcoming 24 May, the liturgical memorial of the “Blessed
Virgin Mary, Help of Christians” and the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, will
provide a particularly auspicious opportunity for the entire Church to ask for energy
and consolation, mercy and courage, for the Catholic community in China.