Beijing, China, Sep 18, 2018 / 05:45 pm (CNA).- A newspaper tied to the Chinese Communist Party reported Tuesday that a delegation of Vatican officials will head to China “in late September” for a final round of talks before an agreement on the appointment of bishops is signed.
Citing unnamed “sources familiar with the matter,” the Global Times, an English-language newspaper that reflects the position of Chinese authorities, said that “there are no ‘disputes on issues of principle’ between the two sides, and since the meeting between the two sides was previously held at the Vatican, the Vatican delegation will come to China this time for a meeting in late September, and if the meeting goes well, the agreement would be signed.”
“A Vatican source also confirmed with the Global Times last week that a prominent figure from the Holy See would probably come to China in late September,” the newspaper reported.
The Global Times also quoted Wang Meixiu, who is presented as “an expert on Catholic Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,” saying that “China and the Vatican most likely agreed that the future bishops in China should be approved by the Chinese government and mandated by the Pope and the letter of appointment would be issued by the Pope.”
“Before signing the agreement,” according to the Communist party-run Chinese newspaper, “the Holy See would deliver an official document to acknowledge seven Chinese bishops who are regarded as ‘illegitimate’ by the Vatican, including some it previously had excommunicated.”
“The Chinese will receive a Vatican delegation by the ‘end of September’ to take one final step towards an agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Holy See, according to a source close to the Chinese Communist Party,” the newspaper added.
Wang is quoted as saying that “one should not expect to solve complicated problems the Catholic Church in China faces today with one agreement,” and that the two sides “still need further discussions on the complex situation in the different dioceses in the Episcopal selection.”
According to the Global Times, Chinese government sources have “stressed that the ongoing negotiations will stay on the religious level, and will not touch on any diplomatic issue such as the establishment of diplomatic ties between Beijing and the Vatican.”
The Vatican is one of the last 17 states in the world that recognizes the government of Taiwan, an island led by a democratically-elected government since 1949. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a renegade Chinese province.
In previous negotiations, China has insisted that the Vatican cut its ties with Taiwan and promise not to interfere with internal Chinese affairs in order to come to an agreement.
It is estimated that there are about 12 million Catholics currently living in China, half within official state churches in the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the rest in the “underground Church.”
The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association is under the day-to-day direct supervision of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to a major change in March 2018 in which the Chinese government shifted direct control of religious affairs to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department (UFWD).
Some of the bishops appointed by the Chinese government in the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association also serve as members of the Chinese Communist Party’s National People’s Congress.
“We, as citizens of the country, should first be a citizen and then have religion and beliefs,” Bishop Peter Fang Jianping of Tangshan told Chinese media after he voted to eliminate presidential term limits for President Xi in March 2018. Fang was ordained a bishop in Beijing in 2000 without Vatican approval and then legitimized by the Holy See two years later.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted a campaign of “Sinicization” of all religion in China, “a far-reaching strategy to control, govern, and manipulate all aspects of faith into a socialist mold infused with ‘Chinese characteristics,’” according to the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom 2018 report.
New regulations on religious practice in China went into effect in February 2018 that codify the increased scrutiny and pressure on religious activities in China. On September 10, the Chinese government placed further restrictions on evangelization, making it illegal for any religious prayers, catechesis or preaching to be published online. This is being enforced via the country’s extensive internet censorship.
Last month, the United Nations voiced alarm over reports that the Chinese government is detaining up to 1 million Uyghur muslims involuntarily in re-education internment camps.
The U.S. State Department has designated China as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom every year since 1999.
[…]
Hopefully, amidst all the mindlessly murderous anti-Jew and mindlessly murderous anti-Moslem atrocities, we Catholics and other Christians will see more clearly the uniquely universal value of the central message of our faith: “Jesus saves!”
Here is a video clip of a brilliant Moslem lady who found that truth –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoX0dqfN5Kk
Here is a video clip of a Jewish man who found that truth –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE7VRivMzy4
Our message to the world – “In Christ alone can we be united in peace.”
But does the Pope identify the perps? Of course not. Too risky. Expect another condemnation of violence when the next attack on Jews occurs (and it will).
Attacking, shooting, and killing innocent people is very disturbing. In the 21st century, human beings need to learn to respect the gift of life and live as fellow pilgrims on journey.
Trump cannot continue to carry the nuclear codes!
If you watched this disgraceful, un-presidential tirade on TV yesterday, you could not ignore evidence of Trump’s mental decline.
Rob Reiner’s body was still warm when…
President Donald Trump LASHED OUT at Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner after he and his wife were stabbed to death in their home, sparking pushback from several Republican lawmakers.
Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday morning that Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused by others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction.” Trump called Reiner “a tortured and struggling man.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-harsh-comments-rob-reiners-murder-spark-rare/story?id=128421268
New York Rep. Mike Lawler, a GOP moderate, called the entirety of the president’s post “wrong.” “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X.
Trump’s actions off the coast of Venezuela are illegal…
U.S. Domestic Law
For the U.S. to declare war, the Constitution requires approval from Congress. Congress has not declared war against Venezuela, nor has it passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to an invasion of Venezuela.
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+Trump%27s+invasion+of+Venesuela+legal&oq=is+Trump%27s+invasion+of+Venesuela+legal&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigATIJCAQQIRgKGKABMgkIBRAhGAoYoAEyBwgGECEYjwIyBwgHECEYjwLSAQk0MjQwM2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Where were you when Biden carried the you know, the thing, come on man.
Trump is notorious for saying outrageous things. It’s nothing new Mr. Morgan.
Dear Mrscracker. You say, “well, that’s Trump”. That is a cavalier and careless position, given that it comes from the Commander in Chief. He was so quick to trash Rob Reiner while his body was still warm. Caution…
Trump was convicted of fraud. “Regardless, it was a con job”.
He incited the US Capitol riot. ” You know he always starts with a bang”.
He pardoned 1500 Jan 6 criminal rioters. “He called them Patriots”.
President Trump had a fireside chat with the nation on Dec 17, 2025. Trump began his remarks with 14 words that captured the central theme of the night: “Good evening, America. Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it.” It was determined he lied many times in his attempt to convince the audience of his successes.
The president, responding to voters’ anxiety over the cost of living, laid blame at the feet of former President Joe Biden in the nearly 20 minutes that followed, mentioning his name seven times. The economy? Biden’s fault. Crime? Biden. Healthcare? Biden. Bad immigration policy?
If I am missing the point on these concerns, let me know specifically which ones.
God bless.
Mr. Morgan, respectfully I didn’t say” Well that’s Trump.” I said he’s notorious for saying outrageous things.
Plus ca change. It is what it is.
“The president, responding to voters’ anxiety over the cost of living, laid blame at the feet of former President Joe Biden in the nearly 20 minutes that followed, mentioning his name seven times.”
Just giving credit where credit is due.
Oh give us a break with your childish and contrived indignities. Reiner used his minor celebrity to issue an endless array of self-indulgent toxic screeds about “Christian Nationalism” and other phantom menaces.
He embodied the entitled left-wing Hollywood elite. Unfortunately, he passed down that sense of superiority and immunity to his offspring and then apparently dared to take issue with his adult brat’s lack of decorum.
A lot of people died the day Reiner met his end. Some were good and decent people. Many would welcome our prayers and we should offer them for the unknown dead. He was not good and decent, unknown and would reject our prayers.
He should have been called to account decades ago for his cultural, ethnic and religion appropriation as the lapsed Catholic Polish radical Michael Stivic. If Hank Azaria had to stop doing the voice of “Apoo”, certainly Reiner’s subversive portrayal should have been treated as unacceptable.
Given the number of leftists than lamented the near miss in Butler or celebrated Charlie kirk’s death, your complaints are hollow and shallow, and consistent with your habit of thread-hijacking.
Dear Pitchfork. Thanks. I await your rigorous and conclusive study of President Trump’s history of madness. I am not a RINO, rather a RINOP, a Republican In Need of a party.