» 03/21/2012 14:13 CHINA Tomb of underground priest destroyed: "Beijing even afraid of the dead" by Wang Zhicheng The police smashed a tombstone because the engraving said the deceased was a "father". But he "had no right" to the title because was not recognized by the government. only relatives and a few faithful of the village allowed at funeral ceremony and cemetery.
Beijing (AsiaNews / UCAN) - "Beijing is even afraid of the dead" is the comment of a faithful from Hebei to AsiaNewsreacting to reports that police destroyed the tombstone of an underground priest.
On the 19 the ceremony marking "100 days" since his death was to
have been held. Relatives and faithful had planned to visit the Damaquan cemetery (Zhaoxian County) and inscribe the words "tomb of Fr. Shi Liming" on the tombstone. The police, who had issued threats against the faithful, smashed the tombstone, the reason being,
Fr. Shi was not recognized as a priest by the government, and so "had no right" to writing that designated him a "father".
Security forces have also
forbidden to the faithful
from other neighboring counties to participate in the ceremony. Only close relatives and
some Catholics in the village were given permission to enter the cemetery.
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