By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Father Paul Li
The provisional Vatican-China agreement on appointments of Chinese Catholic bishops has left Diocese of Honolulu priest Father Paul Li with mixed emotions.
Father Li, who was born and raised in China and started his seminary studies there in the “underground” Catholic Church before coming to Hawaii, said that there are two positives to the agreement.
For one, China’s 12 million Catholics are no longer separated between Vatican loyalists and pro-government Catholics.
In addition, “now we have an open channel between the Vatican and China,” Father Li said.
After taking over the country in 1949, China’s communist rulers cut off official channels with the Vatican and China in 1951. The new provisional agreement, reached in mid-September, reestablishes those lines of communication. But it has disappointed many Catholics in China.
When he was back home this summer, Father Li spoke to a local priest, who expressed misgivings that it looked like the Vatican would soon recognize seven government-appointed bishops.
Those bishops are seen by some as a bad influence on the church for choosing loyalty to the Chinese government over papal authority, Father Li said.
For nearly 70 years, Catholics faithful to the Holy See have worshipped in secret, been arrested, imprisoned and watched. Now that the Vatican has reached this compromise with the Chinese government, Father Li said, “Most people feel like we’re being betrayed. It was like we were sold by this agreement.”
“The sacrifice of what we are holding more dearly for a whole half century, you know people in prison because they showed the loyalty to the communion with the Vatican, they were not being welcomed, they were being persecuted by the government. Now it’s like your sacrifice is no longer valuable to the Catholic Church.”
Yet, to many underground Catholics who have been steadfastly loyal to the pope, this new Vatican-China agreement is one they must also accept.
“If we disobey our pope than who are we?” asked Father Li, who is the pastor of St. Theresa Parish on Hawaii Island and vicar forane for East Hawaii.
He thinks it’ll take at least a generation’s time to let wounds heal for those that were loyal to the Vatican and did not participate in government-sponsored churches or recognize Chinese-appointed bishops prior to this agreement.
“We must rely on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit … to guide the church,” he said.
“We really have to pray for the faith. We cannot foresee what is going to happen.”
