Religious Organizations Slash Vatican's "Canonization"China's three national religious organizations Tuesday voiced their support for the condemnation of the Vatican's "canonization" by the Chinese government and the Chinese Catholic and Protestant churches.The Buddhist Association of China, the China Taoist Association and the Islamic Association of China respectively held symposiums, exposing the evil intention of the Holy See to intervene in China's internal affairs through religious activities. Lay Buddhist Dao Shuren, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China, said that the Vatican's "canonization" of some foreign missionaries and some of their followers who committed monstrous crimes against the Chinese people not only severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, including Buddhism believers, but is also against the trend of the times. "It is in the spirit of religion to eulogize the good and criticize the evil, not the otherwise. However the Vatican's 'canonization' is actually to aid an evildoer to do evil and therefore it is against the spirit of religion," said Imam Chen Guangyuan, chairman of the Islamic Association of China. Min Zhiting, president of the China Taoist Association, said that the Chinese people enjoy complete freedom in religious belief and they also respect religious beliefs by people in other countries. However, the Chinese people would by no means allow the Vatican to conduct any humiliating acts against China. The religious leaders and other participants all agreed that they will stand by the Chinese people and the government to oppose the Vatican's "canonization." According to participants, adherents to the three religions across the country have repeatedly extended their indignation over the "canonization," and they will take concrete actions to safeguard state sovereignty and national dignity. |
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