BEIJING, Oct 30, 01 (CWNews.com) - China's Communist government rejected Pope John Paul recent expression of regret for inappropriate actions taken by Christians in the country throughout history as incomplete. A foreign ministry spokesman said the Holy Father should have apologized for canonizing 120 martyrs last year.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said the Pope's request for forgiveness and understanding for the errors of missionaries in colonial times last Wednesday was "a positive expression." He added, "However, we have also noticed that the Pope did not make a clear apology for the canonization last year, which deeply hurt the feelings of the Chinese people." The canonization occurred on China's National Day which the Communist government took as an affront, since it views all foreign religions and missionaries as Western interference in their civilization.
The Vatican said the martyrs were killed because they were loyal to their faith. Beijing said most were traitors executed for breaking laws when foreign forces invaded China during the 1839-42 Opium War, and during the 1898-1900 Boxer Uprising. "We were firmly opposed to it," Sun said. "We clearly stated our position and provided relevant materials to them. This issue has not been resolved up to now."
The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in churches that, while openly loyal to the government association, secretly pledge allegiance to the Pope.
Sun also reiterated that China would still resume talks on opening diplomatic ties with the Vatican if the Holy See cut relations with Taiwan and agreed not to interfere in China's internal affairs, which most likely means the appointment of bishops and organization of the hierarchy of the local Church.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
30. oktober 2001