This report outlines the severe persecution faced by ten Catholic bishops in China since the 2018 China-Vatican agreement, revealing a pattern of state oppression against those aligning with the Vatican. The bishops symbolize wider religious repression as the CCP intensifies efforts to control religious practices through organizations like the CPCA. The situation underscores the necessity for international engagement to advocate for religious rights and support persecuted clergy.
In recent years, religious suppression of the Catholic Church in China has dramatically escalated, particularly since the 2018 agreement between China and the Vatican regarding bishop appointments. This report highlights the cases of ten bishops persecuted for their loyalty to the Vatican, showcasing a pattern of repression that denies millions of Chinese Catholics their religious freedom. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has targeted these bishops for resisting control over religious practices, leading to their detention, surveillance, and systematic intimidation. The ten bishops featured in this report have endured serious persecutions such as arbitrary detention, disappearances, and extensive police investigations. Seven of these bishops have been imprisoned without trial for extended periods, indicating a severe violation of their rights. The report also excludes those bishops who have died in recent years or for whom there is minimal information, focusing solely on the living cases still facing persecution today. The CCP’s oppression is inextricably linked to the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), which coerces members to renounce allegiance to the Vatican. This long-standing effort has roots dating back to the 1950s, with the Party aiming to sever ties between the Catholic Church in China and the Pope. In opposition to the CPCA’s mandates, several bishops have endured harsh imprisonment, manifesting the ongoing struggle between the pursuit of religious independence and state control. Established in 1957, the CPCA operates under the direct oversight of the CCP’s propaganda department, enforcing stringent policies against religious practices deemed incompatible with Communist ideology. Despite the Vatican not recognizing this association, the CCP has intensified pressures for bishops to comply with these unconstitutional demands since the 2018 agreement. Efforts to align Catholic teachings with Chinese principles substantially undermine the Church’s autonomy and its foundational beliefs. Beijing’s focus on Sinicization since 2015 has resulted in unprecedented religious repression, targeting the Catholic Church’s structure most harshly since the time of Mao Zedong. The Vatican’s agreement lacks provisions for conscientious objectors to the CPCA, furthering this church’s vulnerability. Though meant to facilitate episcopal appointments, the agreement has become a weapon for Beijing to coerce compliance among Catholic bishops, increasingly jeopardizing the unity and integrity of the Church in China. As a sense of urgency grows, the Vatican faces immense pressure to strengthen ties with bishops operating under the CPCA amidst rising governmental control. This struggle for succession within China’s Catholic leadership raises alarm about the future of the church. Pope Francis has shown interest in visiting China, yet this aspiration remains unfulfilled as Beijing continues to rebuff diplomatic overtures from the Holy See without granting any meaningful engagement. The report underscores that the U.S. should assertively recognize and respond to China’s ongoing persecution of Catholic bishops. Making the case for religious freedom a cornerstone of foreign policy, the next administration must prioritize awareness and mitigation of such grievances. Engaging with high-level officials, advocating for heightened scrutiny about religious freedom violations, and acknowledging those suffering are critical for an effective strategy to support persecuted bishops and promote the sanctity of faith.
The persecution of Catholic bishops in China reflects a broader narrative of religious suppression in the face of state control. The 2018 China-Vatican agreement aimed to establish a framework for appointing bishops, but it inadvertently facilitated the CCP’s grip on religious practices. This report serves as documentation of systemic abuses faced by bishops who prioritize allegiance to the Vatican over obedience to the Communist Party, revealing the stark clash between spiritual leadership and authoritarian governance. With historical roots stretching back decades, the CCP has pursued a systematic strategy to diminish the influence of the Vatican in China. The establishment of the CPCA represented an official effort to regulate Catholic practices under state mandates, pushing clergy to distance themselves from papal authority. The tension created by these demands has produced an environment where bishops are increasingly vulnerable to state-sanctioned suppression, severely undermining the church’s integrity and autonomy.
The plight of the ten persecuted bishops in China encapsulates the broader struggle against religious repression under authoritarian governance. As the CCP intensifies its efforts to control religious practices and enforce compliance through fear, the need for international advocacy becomes more pressing. A focused U.S. foreign policy that amplifies the voices of the oppressed Catholic community in China is imperative to combat the ongoing violations of religious freedom and uphold the fundamental rights of faith.
Original Source: www.hudson.org
