When China’s state-run Catholic Church ordained a new bishop for the Diocese of Shantou last Thursday (July 14) without the Vatican’s approval, it represented the latest step back from years of progress in a complex relationship.
Yet the main causes for the shift may have little to do with Rome, experts say, and instead lie in momentous geopolitical events in other regions of the globe, and deep social changes within China itself.
If China still enforces its appalling one child policy by requiring abortions it is not necessary to look for other political reasons to explain why China is taking a hard line against the Catholic Church.
[blockquote] “Even stronger have been recent statements by Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired archbishop of Hong Kong and Pope Benedict’s top adviser on China. Last week, Zen took out an advertisement in a Hong Kong newspaper denouncing those who use “violence to assist scum inside the church to force bishops, priests and followers to do things against their consciences.”” [/blockquote]
A very direct statement from his eminence!