Beijing Tells Vatican Not to 'Interfere' with Chinese Catholics

[emad]

1:16pm (UK)
The Scotsman

China today rejected ties between the nation’s Catholics and the Vatican, indicating that Beijing has not budged on a key issue in their split despite expressing hope for better relations following the death of Pope John Paul.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said he did not know whether China would send anyone to John Paul’s funeral – one possible gesture that might show an interest in reconciliation.

“China’s principle on religion is that religious groups must be independent and support themselves and administer themselves in China,” Qin said. “The Vatican shall not interfere with China’s internal affairs.”

Communist leaders ordered China’s Roman Catholics to break ties with the Vatican in 1951. A government-sanctioned Catholic church appoints its own priests and bishops, though it recognises the pope as a spiritual leader and follows Vatican doctrine.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4354670

TAIWANESE successor to JP2 on the cards????

[Bridget Burke]

1. Surely Bush will show his concern!

Since he's such a good friend of Catholicism--crashing the Pope's funeral & all. (Let's forget about his pals at Bob Jones University.)

No doubt he will admonish the Chinese sternly. (I'm not holding my breath.)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I hate to post to religious threads.

Especially when they can be considered critical. That said, when you look at the regular and partisan involvement in the political process that is being taken by churches here, one can see some wisdom in this stance by Beijing.

Of course, when you consider that the country is, de-facto, a wholly-owned subsidiary of of the People's Army, you can see some other reasons for this as well. The Army is pretty much a religion too.

[Coventina]

3. Wow, the Chinese sure don't know jack about Catholicism

They need to read some church history.

[JoeMemphis]

4. Looks like Beijing is concerned ...

... that the next Pope will do for China what Pope John Paul II did for Poland and eastern Europe.