Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples on the Church in China

(June 04, 2011) Rumours have it that on 9 June there could be a new unlawful Episcopal ordination in Hankow (Wuhan, Hubei), China, one without papal mandate. The Chinese government is preparing Episcopal ordinations without papal mandate. Priests, candidates and bishops are under pressure from the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Whilst understanding their plight, the secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples calls on them to stand their ground and resist. The Congregation secretary the Hong Kong born, Salesian Archbishop Savio Hon, said that each “division causes great pain to the entire body” and the “whole body is scarred and bleeding,” Chinese bishops should have no fear and say no to Beijing’s demands. Vatican appeals for the release of imprisoned Chinese bishops are met with government silence. Meanwhile The beatification of Card Gong Pinmei appointed cardinal in pectore by John Paul II, and other Chinese martyrs under Communism is under consideration.. The Cardinal passed away in 2000. Chinese Catholics are inspired by the new Blessed, John Paul II, who said, ‘Have no fear’. The pope said these words at the start of his pontificate after he left Poland, a country where the Church was persecuted and had few hopes of success. Yet, “Have no fear” was effective.