Chinese bishops allied with the government have promised to proceed with the “sinicization” of Catholicism in China.
During a national conference in Wuhan, two organizations elected leaders who vowed to bring the Church in China in line with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party.
The 10th National Congress of Catholicism in China was attended by 345 Catholic bishops, priests, and religious of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, reported UCA News.
At the end of the three-day gathering, new leaders of the association and of the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) were elected. Both of these organizations are sponsored by the Chinese state.
The Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China has been split between the government-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the underground Church, which is persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities.
The Vatican does not officially recognize the CCPA. The state-sponsored congress is held every five years.
Archbishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing was appointed chairman of the CCPA, while Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen was elected as the new BCCCC chairman.
The new leaders agreed to continue efforts towards the sinicization of the Church as laid out previously by President Xi Jinping.
In 2018, the Vatican reached an agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops in the country; the terms of the deal, which was renewed in October 2020 for two more years, have never been fully revealed. The Sino-Vatican agreement is due to expire on Oct. 22.
Human rights advocates have voiced concerns after Pope Francis said the agreement was “moving well” and should be renewed.
Vatican officials have repeatedly said that the accord between China and the Holy See is focused solely on the appointment of bishops. According to reports, the agreement allows China’s state-sanctioned church (CCPA) to select episcopal candidates, who would then be approved or vetoed by the Holy See.
In last year’s National Conference on Religious Affairs, the president said that religious practice in China would be brought into line with Marxist views and ideologies.
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Douglas Ernst’s “Soulfinder” series of graphic novels follows the adventures of combat vets-turned-exorcists. / ICONIC Comics
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 20, 2022 / 05:00 am (CNA).
Father Patrick Retter kept his wits about him as he faced the giant, red-eyed cobra slithering out of the possessed woman’s mouth.
“In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,” he chanted the Sign of the Cross in Latin, as he thrust a bottle of holy water at the demon.
The woman bit his hand with her teeth — emitting a loud crunch — but the priest kept going. Clutching his wooden cross, he declared, “I cast you and every satanic specter out — in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! It is he who commands you.”
So begins one of the many action-packed scenes in the “Soulfinder” graphic novel series about a fictional “special forces of exorcists” within the Catholic Church.
“‘Soulfinder’ is about a major order of combat veteran exorcists who are recruited to engage in spiritual warfare with a demon called Blackfire until the end of time,” Douglas Ernst, the writer and creator of the seriestold CNA.
The 42-year-old writer began the series to fill a void in today’s comic-book world — and in the culture.
“The heroes that I grew up reading are often unrecognizable because the creators at Marvel and DC are activists posing as serious storytellers,” he explained. “I created ‘Soulfinder’ because I wanted to give people solid stories and artwork that also imparts something good, true, and beautiful.”
Together with a team of artists — Timothy Lim, Brett R. Smith, Matthew Weldon, and Dave Dorman, to name a few — Ernst brings to life characters who dedicate themselves to serving God after serving their country. They apply their experience of fighting in the physical world to, now, battling in the spiritual realm.
The series is already saving souls, both inside and outside of its pages.
“I love it when someone writes me and says that reading the books brought them back to the Catholic Church after they drifted away,” Ernst revealed. “Perhaps they haven’t gone to Mass in years, but something in the stories rekindled the flame of faith.”
Stories of selfless service
A Catholic veteran himself, Ernst shares something in common with his protagonists. He served as a mechanized infantryman in the ‘90s, leaving before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He saw many of his friends go to war — and never return.
Ernst brings this background to his books, which follow the adventures of Retter (an Iraq/Afghanistan war veteran), Father Reginald Crane (a Vietnam veteran), and Detective Gregory Chua.
“My hope is that I’ve done right by the military community,” he said. “Selfless service and the willingness to lay down one’s life for another is a crucial component of the series.”
Ernst, who previously worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., now splits his time between Reno, Nevada, and Missoula, Montana, while focusing on his graphic novels.
His first two — “Soulfinder: Demon’s Match” and “Soulfinder: Black Tide” — greet readers with vivid colors and rich Catholic symbolism. The second book, available in hardcover, shimmers with gilded pages — and even a glow-in-the-dark monster.
There is a dramatic reality at the core of these works of fiction. The series illustrates Catholic priests not only as courageous heroes but also as imperfect human beings — men who may fall, but always pick themselves back up, driven by a desire to do the right thing. Along the way, their personality (and sense of humor) shines through the narrative.
Available through ICONIC Comics, the first two volumes also appear on AmazonKindle. In January, both made No. 1 on Amazon’s list of new releases in “Religious Graphic Novels.”
Inspired by Catholic writers
Ernst — who learned to read by devouring the adventures of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Daredevil, and Captain America as a boy — began his series after encountering mainstream comic books filled with moral relativism.
“Where are the Catholic creators who will attempt to pick up where G.K. Chesterton and J.R.R. Tolkien left off?” he asked. “That’s a tall task, but the culture will continue to drift into dangerous waters if Catholic writers and artists do not enter as many creative places as possible.”
Ernst shared what he did to prepare for the books, to ensure that they were theologically sound.
Being a “cradle Catholic” helped, he admitted, in addition to consulting with other Catholics, including a priest. His stories, he said, have been inspired by the works of St. Francis de Sales, Father Gabriele Amorth, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, and others.
Ernst began the series after organizing a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign. He also credits his success to working with talented artists and to Word on Fire, Bishop Robert Barron’s media ministry, which has featured his work in blog and YouTube interviews.
A ‘PG-13’ advisory
Teenagers and adults seeking classic storytelling with “good vs. evil” seem to enjoy Soulfinder, Ernst said of his series, which he rates as “PG-13.” This is because, among other things, the series addresses a dark subject matter.
In his first book with artist Timothy Lim, also a practicing Catholic, a black mass scene involves a naked woman.
“She is nude, but there’s shadows where there needs to be shadows,” Ernst pointed out the strategic shading over her body. “It’s also shown as a bad thing.”
While the series is for more mature readers, it offers content for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
“Most Catholic characters in modern comics and in Hollywood tend to be cartoonish version of the Faith,” he said.
His series, he emphasized, is different.
“It makes me incredibly happy when readers who are not Catholic say that these stories show a side of our faith that they have never encountered before.”
Third book on the way
Ernst told CNA the third installment of the series is in production.
“‘Soulfinder: Infinite Ascent’ takes our heroes to the other side of the world to apprehend a rogue member of the CIA who has evaded capture through supernatural means,” Ernst told CNA. “The U.S. government was so impressed with Father Retter and his friends regarding their success in ‘Soulfinder: Black Tide’ that it returns to them once again to clean up a global network of occultists.”
While there is no official release date yet, Ernst expects the book to be colored and lettered in March. From there, it will be sent to the printer.
“The story, at its core, focuses on the loss of loved ones, grief, and the need for forgiveness,” Ernst hinted. “The key to saving the day hinges on one character’s ability to forgive others for their trespasses against him.”
The volume will include a bonus story, “Soulfinder: War Cry,” which takes place at Arlington Cemetery.
In the end, Ernst hopes that these books will bring him, and his readers, closer to heaven.
“I know that one day I will stand before my Creator and I’ll have to give an account of what I’ve done with the talents I’ve been given,” he said. “I hope that my creative team has done its small part in saving souls while simultaneously entertaining readers.”
The 2019 USCCB fall general assembly / Catholic News Agency
Washington D.C., Oct 7, 2021 / 16:04 pm (CNA).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced the slate of candidates for five committee chair positions to be filled this fall, a… […]
Image from page 155 of “Young Folks’ History of the United States” (1903). / Public Domain
St. Louis, Mo., Nov 24, 2022 / 08:00 am (CNA).
In 1621, lacking both the skills and the resources necessary to survive in the harsh territory of New England, European pilgrims encountered a miracle: a Native American who not only spoke English but who also used his skills and knowledge to help the Pilgrims adapt to their environment and survive the brutal winter.
This was Squanto, a man who occupies a special place in the hearts of many people who celebrate Thanksgiving because of his willingness and ability to help the newcomers to his land.
Squanto’s full name was Tisquantum, and he was a member of the Patuxet tribe, which lived in and around modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was probably born around 1585 in the area that is now Boston.
Little is known about Tisquantum’s early life, but what is known is that he was abducted from his homeland as a slave by an Englishman, Thomas Hunt, in 1614. He ended up in Malaga, Spain, where a group of Franciscans bought him in order to free him. It is apparently thanks to these Franciscans that he received baptism and became Catholic, though it is not clear to what extent he was catechized and practiced his new faith.
Damien Costello, a Catholic historian and theologian, told CNA that the historical record portrays “a very skillful agent” in Tisquantum who was able to change his situation and engage with European culture. He was able to find employment as a translator in England and later convinced a wealthy financier to fund an expedition back to his homeland.
When Tisquantum finally made it back to where his tribe lived in present-day Massachusetts, his life took a tragic turn. He found that his entire tribe, while he was in Europe, had been wiped out by disease — he was the sole survivor.
The Pilgrims arrived in New England in 1620 and were far from the first Europeans to set foot on those shores — this was many years after Jesuit missionaries had started missionary activity in the area but hadn’t settled. When the Pilgrims arrived in what had once been Patuxet territory, the empty land made a good place to settle. Tisquantum, no doubt mourning the loss of his people, was nevertheless able to deftly reinvent himself as an intermediary between the Pilgrims and Native leaders.
In March 1621, the chief of the Wampanoag confederation, Massasoit, went to meet with the Pilgrims and brought Tisquantum along to translate. After negotiations fell apart, Tisquantum stayed with the Pilgrims and helped to facilitate what we now know as the first Thanksgiving — a meal between the Pilgrims and the Natives of the area. Tisquantum died the next year, in 1622.
So, was Tisquantum a Catholic? Costello says it is likely he was baptized and thus, theologically, he was indeed a Catholic. Native American culture was very spiritual, and Costello said he doesn’t think it unlikely that Tisquantum saw his baptism as a positive spiritual experience.
“Catholicism was a crucial ingredient in Squanto’s resiliency, the regenerative principle that gave spiritual power to sustain the disjunction of being a global citizen in a world forever turned upside down,” Costello later wrote in an article for U.S. Catholic.
As to whether Tisquantum continued to practice his Catholic faith for the rest of his life, there’s little evidence to say for sure. In a very real sense, God only knows.
his article was adapted from an episode of Catholic News Agency’s award-winning storytelling podcast, CNA Newsroom. You can listen to that episode here.
Oh we have already had that. In their version, after rescuing the adulteress from stoning, Christ personally beat her to death. Soon that will be the nihil obstat version.
It’s quite dangerous because it prepares and conveys an accommodating, heretical Marxist Catholicism to a world becoming more egalitarian and socialist. And who might we fault with this if not the Vatican [Isn’t the Church itself moving in similar direction?].
“Catholic” Chinese “patriotic” bishops take the oath to support the State in everything.
This is wrong in itself and never was a part of the Church or her witness; nor was it ever a part of her juridical accommodations with States. In addition her children accepted martyrdom in order NOT to fall in with such schemes.
The problem can exist in other countries but informally; where it can transpire that it is not addressed but effectively lived. Meanwhile the current Pontificate decries formalism, intellectualism, legalism, etc., that deflect from problem-areas such as this one and can never address them squarely.
Whether formal or informal, it’s not her mission and can not be accommodated to the mission on account of the things just identified.
In the case of China, what they are swearing to support is already wholly contrary to faith.
But in the lesser “notarized” circumstances, where things are “at large” and not acknowledged explicitly, yet on-going, what is contrary to faith seeps in and then is accepted and upheld “informally”. Then there is a lot of hush over and hush-hush as well as some easy-going jokes and counsels about how to get along smartly.
In the Pope’s actual message he wants to lend an authority to these by referencing “Time is greater than space”. But the wandering preacher is not a rolling stone and not all situations are about wandering.
On the one hand these are not supported in the passages from Acts and St. Paul -whether the ones that are cited or other ones; nor, for that matter in the Gospels.
On the other hand there are already some very clear instances where they would not add up, in the first place, to “the working of the Spirit”; so that adding the “craft of community” to it or upon it, can not do anything for it and make it what it is not.
‘ The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord. ‘
The Catholic Church in China aligned with the Patriotic Association embracing sinicization of the Chinese Communist Party is comparable to half of the white Catholics of the Catholic Church in the U.S. embracing Trumpism of the GOP.
James D, this comment is ignorant and offensive. There is no apt comparison between the atheist CCP and the GOP. It is sad that “trolls” infect even CWR.
Not sure what it all means but that the church will be brought in line with Marxism in China are only parallel to its having been brought in line with (full list of western social and economic nonsense) in UK USA etc…
China ain’t no worse than the rest of them
John Doe, I have to disagree. We’ve all seen how the CCP treats Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, in part due to the CCP’s view that acts of political dissent, protest and cultural expression are forms of terrorism. Half a world away, we see another dictator, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, referring to the country’s Catholic bishops as “terrorists”, and subsequently arresting Bishop Alvarez and imprisoning priests and seminarians.
Is there “western social nonsense” to which bishops in the US and other Western countries have subscribed? Yes. But falling in line with a government that will treat you as a terrorist for daring to dissent from party orthodoxy is a clear difference…one of kind, not of degree.
Francis is thrilled. And ecstatic that he has enough votes in the conclave now to be confident that after he is gone, the next people will continue the ministry of sinicizing the entire Catholic Church.
Why is the Provisional Agreement called that and is it also some kind of suzerainty pact?
If it is that the Provisional Agreement is a shared acknowledgement between China and Rome, that the oath is made “provisionally” on certain conditions, then, the conditions are laid out in some fashion. The argument would be that for either side and for the sake of the arrangement, the conditions legitimize swearing such an oath. The conclusions that would ensue are:
1. If the patriotic bishops swear this oath to the State it involves a suzerainty pact and is apostate.
2. If the patriotic bishops swear the oath to God it is sacrilegious and abominable.
3. No matter what the conditions are or could be, either way it is NOT saved by having it in one’s heart or the Pope’s heart that it is “sworn provisionally”; nor is it excused or excusable.
4. For those bishops who have been legitimated by the Rome, they, by this China oath, become schismatic in the same instant, with the Pope.
5. All who knowingly support it, even those not party to it, are schismatic.
6 This visitation would reveal that it is also a Papal secret; and as such is the active secret propagation and secret nuancing of heresy by the very author of the heresy and his counselors, of heretical words, deeds, attitudes and formulations.
7. The alleged justification of being well-attuned in some “facts” and “norms” and “sensibilities” of “unity, reality, wholeness and time”, is simultaneously falsehood and heresy -in the case. In this instance it serves apostasy and schism and secreted heretical formulations in variety.
‘ The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need 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 religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold high patriotism and love for religion; (and) adhere to the principles of independent and self-run churches,” the bishops’ statement said. ‘
Charlotte Evans, pay attention, in your reporting above, an important element that would be in the source material, got omitted, which is, the reference to the Chinese word for “thought”. This word is one and the same with Xi Jinping’s “sinicization” of China and it is important to grasp its position.
See my comment above, August 29, 2022 at 4:58 am.
China is already Chinese, it does not need to be “sino-ized”; so that in fact what they are doing is trying to mutate the natural culture of thousands of years into a collectivism in communism.
See my discussion in the comments in the first link “Pope Francis hopes the China deal will be renewed”; where I point out the difference, in Chinese communism, between “thought” and “theory”- CWR.
I find the statement from the Chinese Bishops at this time particularly striking as they coincide with the publicized reflections given in the consistory, among them:
– Pope Francis stressed “discernment qualities” as well as the meaning of “root” for liturgy
– cardinals are reminded they share “joint responsibilities” for the Church
– the Order of Malta got the assurance it will be conformed to its “original inspiration” and “foundational context”.
These Chinese Bishops have declared for the “thought” line from Mao Zedong and are stating openly how it is engaged with them.
In a related affair, my bishop is promoting the modernist Jean Gebser and the idea of collective consciousness while proclaiming that China is already way ahead in achieving what the Church should become eventually. The world supposedly has “gone past post-modernism” and the Church supposedly is lagging.
With China, the line from “thought” comes down from Mao Zedong. The term “theory” is ascribed to Deng Xiaoping. What has happened to Deng Xiaoping is quite strange.
Back in contemporary times Deng Xiaoping was regarded differently and has the nickname Xixian, meaning, “admired for virtue”, “precious character” and even “boundary”. This has the sense of a true popularity.
With Xi Jinping the situation is really that “admiring” him is a requirement imposed from on high and entails certain strains of a demand for adulation.
The Chinese communists are very skilled in the language business. You can get another angle on it through the discussion of the 1992 Consensus issue.
What is indisputable is that Sinicization, which to begin with disrespects true Chinese culture, is, also -: “Xi Jinping thought”.
The quotation is from the last link, THE BOSTON PILOT, “New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist principles”.
‘ The new leaders issued a statement 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 move ahead toward a “bright future.”
The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need 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 religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold 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 important to adhere to the direction of sinicization of Catholicism in China to “vigorously strengthen the building of patriotic forces” to realize “the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” ‘
Looking forward to the reporting of the sinicization of Scripture & Catechism….only then will Rome truely know the fruits of their agreement.
Oh we have already had that. In their version, after rescuing the adulteress from stoning, Christ personally beat her to death. Soon that will be the nihil obstat version.
It’s quite dangerous because it prepares and conveys an accommodating, heretical Marxist Catholicism to a world becoming more egalitarian and socialist. And who might we fault with this if not the Vatican [Isn’t the Church itself moving in similar direction?].
“Catholic” Chinese “patriotic” bishops take the oath to support the State in everything.
This is wrong in itself and never was a part of the Church or her witness; nor was it ever a part of her juridical accommodations with States. In addition her children accepted martyrdom in order NOT to fall in with such schemes.
The problem can exist in other countries but informally; where it can transpire that it is not addressed but effectively lived. Meanwhile the current Pontificate decries formalism, intellectualism, legalism, etc., that deflect from problem-areas such as this one and can never address them squarely.
Whether formal or informal, it’s not her mission and can not be accommodated to the mission on account of the things just identified.
In the case of China, what they are swearing to support is already wholly contrary to faith.
But in the lesser “notarized” circumstances, where things are “at large” and not acknowledged explicitly, yet on-going, what is contrary to faith seeps in and then is accepted and upheld “informally”. Then there is a lot of hush over and hush-hush as well as some easy-going jokes and counsels about how to get along smartly.
In the Pope’s actual message he wants to lend an authority to these by referencing “Time is greater than space”. But the wandering preacher is not a rolling stone and not all situations are about wandering.
On the one hand these are not supported in the passages from Acts and St. Paul -whether the ones that are cited or other ones; nor, for that matter in the Gospels.
On the other hand there are already some very clear instances where they would not add up, in the first place, to “the working of the Spirit”; so that adding the “craft of community” to it or upon it, can not do anything for it and make it what it is not.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252106/pope-francis-warns-about-arbitrary-and-ideological-adaptations-to-church-ministries
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/messages/pont-messages/2022/documents/20220815-messaggio-ministeria-quaedam.html
‘ The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord. ‘
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/03/14/full-text-pope-francis-first-homily-as-pontiff/
The Catholic Church in China aligned with the Patriotic Association embracing sinicization of the Chinese Communist Party is comparable to half of the white Catholics of the Catholic Church in the U.S. embracing Trumpism of the GOP.
James D, this comment is ignorant and offensive. There is no apt comparison between the atheist CCP and the GOP. It is sad that “trolls” infect even CWR.
Not sure what it all means but that the church will be brought in line with Marxism in China are only parallel to its having been brought in line with (full list of western social and economic nonsense) in UK USA etc…
China ain’t no worse than the rest of them
John Doe, I have to disagree. We’ve all seen how the CCP treats Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, in part due to the CCP’s view that acts of political dissent, protest and cultural expression are forms of terrorism. Half a world away, we see another dictator, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, referring to the country’s Catholic bishops as “terrorists”, and subsequently arresting Bishop Alvarez and imprisoning priests and seminarians.
Is there “western social nonsense” to which bishops in the US and other Western countries have subscribed? Yes. But falling in line with a government that will treat you as a terrorist for daring to dissent from party orthodoxy is a clear difference…one of kind, not of degree.
Francis is thrilled. And ecstatic that he has enough votes in the conclave now to be confident that after he is gone, the next people will continue the ministry of sinicizing the entire Catholic Church.
Praise You Jesus Christ.
Why is the Provisional Agreement called that and is it also some kind of suzerainty pact?
If it is that the Provisional Agreement is a shared acknowledgement between China and Rome, that the oath is made “provisionally” on certain conditions, then, the conditions are laid out in some fashion. The argument would be that for either side and for the sake of the arrangement, the conditions legitimize swearing such an oath. The conclusions that would ensue are:
1. If the patriotic bishops swear this oath to the State it involves a suzerainty pact and is apostate.
2. If the patriotic bishops swear the oath to God it is sacrilegious and abominable.
3. No matter what the conditions are or could be, either way it is NOT saved by having it in one’s heart or the Pope’s heart that it is “sworn provisionally”; nor is it excused or excusable.
4. For those bishops who have been legitimated by the Rome, they, by this China oath, become schismatic in the same instant, with the Pope.
5. All who knowingly support it, even those not party to it, are schismatic.
6 This visitation would reveal that it is also a Papal secret; and as such is the active secret propagation and secret nuancing of heresy by the very author of the heresy and his counselors, of heretical words, deeds, attitudes and formulations.
7. The alleged justification of being well-attuned in some “facts” and “norms” and “sensibilities” of “unity, reality, wholeness and time”, is simultaneously falsehood and heresy -in the case. In this instance it serves apostasy and schism and secreted heretical formulations in variety.
‘ The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need 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 religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold high patriotism and love for religion; (and) adhere to the principles of independent and self-run churches,” the bishops’ statement said. ‘
https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/08/new-chinese-catholic-leaders-say-theyll-follow-communist-party-principles
The congregation of chalk agrees to proceed with the cheesification of the white cliffs of Dover.
Charlotte Evans, pay attention, in your reporting above, an important element that would be in the source material, got omitted, which is, the reference to the Chinese word for “thought”. This word is one and the same with Xi Jinping’s “sinicization” of China and it is important to grasp its position.
See my comment above, August 29, 2022 at 4:58 am.
China is already Chinese, it does not need to be “sino-ized”; so that in fact what they are doing is trying to mutate the natural culture of thousands of years into a collectivism in communism.
See my discussion in the comments in the first link “Pope Francis hopes the China deal will be renewed”; where I point out the difference, in Chinese communism, between “thought” and “theory”- CWR.
I find the statement from the Chinese Bishops at this time particularly striking as they coincide with the publicized reflections given in the consistory, among them:
– Pope Francis stressed “discernment qualities” as well as the meaning of “root” for liturgy
– cardinals are reminded they share “joint responsibilities” for the Church
– the Order of Malta got the assurance it will be conformed to its “original inspiration” and “foundational context”.
These Chinese Bishops have declared for the “thought” line from Mao Zedong and are stating openly how it is engaged with them.
In a related affair, my bishop is promoting the modernist Jean Gebser and the idea of collective consciousness while proclaiming that China is already way ahead in achieving what the Church should become eventually. The world supposedly has “gone past post-modernism” and the Church supposedly is lagging.
With China, the line from “thought” comes down from Mao Zedong. The term “theory” is ascribed to Deng Xiaoping. What has happened to Deng Xiaoping is quite strange.
Back in contemporary times Deng Xiaoping was regarded differently and has the nickname Xixian, meaning, “admired for virtue”, “precious character” and even “boundary”. This has the sense of a true popularity.
With Xi Jinping the situation is really that “admiring” him is a requirement imposed from on high and entails certain strains of a demand for adulation.
The Chinese communists are very skilled in the language business. You can get another angle on it through the discussion of the 1992 Consensus issue.
What is indisputable is that Sinicization, which to begin with disrespects true Chinese culture, is, also -: “Xi Jinping thought”.
The quotation is from the last link, THE BOSTON PILOT, “New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist principles”.
‘ The new leaders issued a statement 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 move ahead toward a “bright future.”
The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need 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 religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold 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 important to adhere to the direction of sinicization of Catholicism in China to “vigorously strengthen the building of patriotic forces” to realize “the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” ‘
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/07/05/pope-francis-says-he-hopes-vatican-china-deal-will-be-renewed/
“thought”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maoism
“thought”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping_Thought
“theory”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping_Theory
“Xixian”
https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=%E5%B8%8C%E8%B4%A4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Consensus
https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.php?ID=193035