Inequality between rich and poor and mass protests are growing. Xi Jinping has called for a change of style and goals for the country’s labour union to no avail. China Labour Bulletin provides an analysis.
Cross and boundary wall of Lingkun church torn down. A cross demolished in Zhumadian in Henan. It was "too visible". Re-education of priests in Hubei to reaffirm the Church's "independence" from the Vatican and submission to the Party.
People can now be ideologically “re-educated” against "religious extremism" through psychological pressure and torture. At least one million Uyghurs are held in "vocational training centres".
Marking the National Day of the Republic of China, the president rails against Beijing, "source of conflict" in the Strait and in the region. The vice president of the Republic of China, Chen Chien-jen, will attend the canonization ceremony of Paul VI and will have a private audience with Pope Francis.
Discrimination at work and at school; masses once a week in dilapidated warehouses; checks carried out on the faithful and on the priests: the daily life of a member of the underground community. A rebuke for the media and its silence and an appeal not to forget them and to pray for them.
The new platform shows only the names of official priests and churches registered with the government. For Pope Francis, the Church in China is one, but Beijing and the Patriotic Association want to keep the split between "official" and "underground" Churches. The next Sino-Vatican talks will focus on underground communities and the recognition of 12 unofficial bishops.
The accusation is that he "violated the law", perhaps with acts of corruption. His wife had reported his disappearance last week. Meng was vice-minister of Public Security in China. Another high-profile personality falls prey to Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign. Meng's wife and children are under the protection of the French police, having received death threats. The appeal of Wei Jingsheng.
The Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops writes an open letter to the former nuncio to Washington. In it, he describes the former nuncio’s accusations as a baseless “political manoeuvre”. “I cannot understand how you could have allowed yourself to be convinced of this monstrous accusation which has no standing,” he writes.
Chinese faithful, official and underground communities, express their feelings about the present and the future of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement. Many ask for the publication of the agreement document; others that bishops held in prison are freed and that the unofficial bishops are recognized by the government. The fear that China will belittle the Vatican. Fidelity to the Pope and to the unity of the Church, but concern for the rise in "collaborator" bishops.
For the optimists the provisional agreement is "historic"; for the pessimists it is the beginning of the total sell out of the Church to the Party. The Pope is involved in naming bishops. But we know nothing of a right of veto. The lifting of excommunications is good, but the faithful expect a public request for forgiveness. China has not asked for a break with Taiwan as a prior condition. Praise for Lithuanian martyrs, amid silence on the Chinese ones.
