December 18, 2012: The Vatican has concluded an agreement with Taiwan on Monday regarding
the governance of Catholic universities and the recognition of titles and degrees
from Catholic universities. A Vatican announcement of the agreement—which was
signed earlier this month, and is now formally in place—noted that the pact would
recognize “the presence of the Catholic Church in the university environment within
the Chinese language zone.” The agreement also recognizes “the exclusive competence
of the Holy See for content, academic programs and the appointment of directors and
teaching staff” in ecclesiastical institutions. The Agreement was signed in Taipei
on 2 December 2011 by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect for the Congregation for
Catholic Education, and Wu Ching-Ji, minister for Education of the Republic of China
(ROC). On 20 November it was unanimously approved by the parliamentary assembly (Legislative
Yuan) of the Republic of China. It is an agreement "of a cultural and administrative
character", stipulated within the framework of the UNESCO Regional Convention on the
recognition of studies, diplomas and teaching grades in Asia and the Pacific, signed
in Tokyo on 26 November 2011 with the participation of the Republic of China and the
Holy See, among other States. It regulates two sectors: the academic-administrative
domain of the reciprocal recognition of studies, qualifications, diplomas and grades,
and that of collaboration in the field of higher education, which would include the
presence of the Catholic Church in the university environment within the Chinese language
zone. By this agreement, the Republic of China concedes to the Holy See the recognition
of study titles and ecclesiastical grades issued throughout the world, respect for
canon law on the structure and management of Catholic universities and ecclesiastical
faculties of theology in Taiwan, and the possibility of proposing Catholic values
in the academic field in faculties other than those of theology.
This recognition
implies respect for canon academic legislation, the protection of the Catholic character
of academic institutions, the exclusive competence of the Holy See for content, academic
programmes and the appointment of directors and teaching staff, as well as the individual
written commitment on the part of teachers and administrative staff to moral conduct
compatible with Catholic doctrine and morality. The Agreement will also bring
advantages to priests, seminarians and clergy from continental China who undertake
studies at the Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei.