BEIJING (CNS)—Two state-sponsored church bodies in China have elected recent leaders, who promised to invigorate the Catholic faithful pastorally consistent with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party.
The three-day tenth National Congress of Catholicism in China led to Wuhan, the capital of Hebei province in central China, Aug. 20. The national conference is held every five years, and senior Communist Party officials also attended the gathering and delivered speeches, reported ucanews.com.
The delegates unanimously accepted the work report of the Ninth Standing Committee on church efforts and activities within the promotion of patriotism, socialism, and sinicization within the Catholic Church as outlined by President Xi Jinping.
Sinicization is a political ideology that goals to impose strict rules on societies and institutions based on the core values of socialism, autonomy, and supporting the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, reported ucanews.com.
The brand new leaders issued an announcement to commit themselves to promotion of sinicization for “truth, pragmatism and inspiration” to maneuver ahead toward a “vibrant future.”
Greater than 300 Catholic bishops, clergy and spiritual from across China elected recent leaders of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, said a report on the bishops’ website.
Archbishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing was elected chairman of the patriotic association, and Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen was elected chairman of the government-approved bishops’ conference.
The brand new leaders issued an announcement to commit themselves to engaging priests, religious, and laypeople across the country for pastoral evangelization and further promotion of sinicization for “truth, pragmatism and inspiration” to maneuver ahead toward a “vibrant future.”
The bishops said it was “obligatory to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘recent era.’”
The brand new leaders’ statement also highlighted the necessity for the Catholic Church to implement the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Affairs held last December and fulfill the requirement of the Communist Party’s Central Committee for the Catholic Church in China. During that conference Dec. 3-4, Xi stressed the strict implementation of Marxist policies, increased online surveillance and tightening control of faith to make sure national security.
The bishops said it was “obligatory to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘recent era’; proceed to carry high patriotism and love for religion; (and) adhere to the principles of independent and self-run churches,” the bishops’ statement said.
The church leaders said they find it is crucial to stick to the direction of sinicization of Catholicism in China to “vigorously strengthen the constructing of patriotic forces” to understand “the dream of the nice rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The Chinese church has kept alive the road of apostolic succession by having validly ordained bishops function consecrators.
Following the communist takeover in 1949, China severed diplomatic ties with the Vatican.
The communist government formed the Catholic Patriotic Association in 1957 to say control over the Catholic Church. It initially didn’t accept papal authority over the Chinese Catholic Church.
For years, the appointment of bishops remained a bone of contention between the Chinese government and the Vatican, with Beijing appointing and consecrating bishops with out a Vatican mandate. Even though it has ordained many bishops “elected” without papal approval, the Chinese church has kept alive the road of apostolic succession by having validly ordained bishops function consecrators.
China has about 12 million Catholics split between those that leaders have joined the patriotic association and those that refuse, say independent researchers.
In 2018, the Vatican signed a provisional agreement with China for 2 years over the appointment of bishops; the agreement was renewed for an additional two years in 2020. The provisions of the agreement haven’t been made public.
The Vatican reportedly seeks to unite Catholics with the deal, which provides the Vatican a say to simply accept or veto bishops chosen by Beijing.
