By Michael Sainsbury Catholic News Service BANGKOK — When Deng Xiaoping took charge of the Chinese Communist Party in late 1978 and announced his program of reform, it was the beginning of the end of 39 years of isolation for China’s Christians. The year 1978 was also the beginning of the 27-year papacy of St. […]
China-born priest left with mixed feelings about Vatican-China agreement
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald 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 […]
Vatican, China nearing agreement on bishops, according to reports
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Multiple news reports indicate the Vatican has made substantial progress in reaching an agreement with China’s communist government on the naming of bishops for several dioceses. The news agency Reuters and The Wall Street Journal both reported Feb. 1 that the deal would involve two bishops […]
Chinese officials pay poor to swap religious images for portraits of Xi
By Catholic News Service HONG KONG — Officials in China’s eastern Jiangxi province have replaced religious images displayed by Christian families with portraits of the country’s leader, Xi Jinping. Ucanews.com reported that, on Nov. 12, pictures were uploaded to the popular social messaging service WeChat account of Huangjinbu town government, showing officials removing images of […]
China, Vatican reach consensus on appointing bishops
By Barb Fraze Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — China and the Vatican have reached consensus on the appointment of bishops, which will lead to the resolution of other outstanding problems, said Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong. “From now on, there will be no more the crisis of a division between the open and underground communities […]