Catholics Across China Join to Slam Vatican

Chinese Catholics in six provinces and municipalities all joined to criticize the Vatican's "canonization", saying that they support the condemnation of the Vatican by the Chinese Government and the Chinese Catholic Church.

Catholics in Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei, Shanxi, Fujian and Guizhou provinces respectively held symposiums today, voicing their indignation over the Vatican's act to distort history and intervene in China's internal affairs through religious activities.

At the symposium held in Shanghai, Bishop Jin Luxian said that Catholics should firmly stand by the government and the people in issues of state sovereignty, national dignity and religious future. As the Vatican's "canonization" was actually manipulated by the so-called "Taiwan Catholic Bishops College", the "canonization" reveals that while catering to the Taiwan authority, the Holy See intended to split China. Therefore, the "Canonization" seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and it is also a severe provocation to the Chinese nation.

At other similar symposiums, Bishops, priests, nuns and converts pointed out that infamous foreign missionaries such as Auguste Chapdelaine, Franciscus de Capillas and Albericus Crescitelli had only themselves to blame because they had stopped no evil and are still being hated by people. They also said the Vatican's "canonization" for political purpose violates its own traditional canonization procedures, thus it is a desecration to Catholics.

The Catholics also called upon the Holy See to repent for its wrong-doing and to not set barriers to China-Vatican relations.

The Catholics all agreed that they will stick to patriotism and the religious policy of independence and self-management, stressing that patriotism is the order from God and nothing is capable of shaking the love and loyalty of Catholics to the motherland.

According to religious resources, Catholics and other religious people across the country will hold similar symposiums to voice their condemnation of the "canonization".



People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/