The Vatican’s renewed agreement with China aims to improve religious freedoms, but Human Rights Watch stresses that action must accompany this agreement, demanding the release of detained Catholic bishops. Pope Francis’s commitment to human rights remains crucial amid harsh government restrictions on religion.
In a call to action, Human Rights Watch has emphasized that the renewal of the Vatican’s agreement with China should result in enhanced religious freedoms and human rights. They urge the Chinese government to release Catholic bishops who have been forcibly disappeared. The recent extension of the provisional agreement concerning the appointment of bishops, renewed for four years, follows earlier renewals of two years each. Notably, this agreement addresses the appointment authority of bishops, which had been a contentious issue for decades.
The Vatican’s ongoing negotiations with China come against a backdrop marked by increasing government control over religious practices under President Xi Jinping. The Chinese government’s restrictive measures encompass intense oversight of officially recognized religions, confining worship to sanctioned venues and appointing bishops through its Patriotic Catholic Association. These constraints aim to align religious practice with state ideologies, but they have led to widespread persecution of underground worshippers.
As the Holy See renews its agreement with China, the opportunity for substantial religious freedoms hangs in the balance. Human Rights Watch insists that the Vatican must prioritize the release of detained bishops to have a meaningful impact on human rights in China. The situation remains critical, urging Pope Francis to champion religious freedom in a time when it is desperately needed.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
