´Underground´ priests still missing after months

Published Date: October 21, 2009

The whereabouts of three “underground” priests in northern China, detained by police months ago, are still unknown while another has apparently been persuaded to join the “open” Church, say sources.

Catholics at prayer in northern China (file photo)

Fathers Liu Jianzhong, Zhang Cunhui and Zhong Mingchang of Xuanhua diocese were taken away by plainclothes police on June 8, June 14 and Sept. 16 respectively.

Local Church sources said that when the priests´ family members went to government departments to enquire about them, the authorities denied detaining them and refused family requests to help locate them.

Meanwhile, Father Simon Zhang Jianlin, who was taken by police in July, is under house arrest in a county government building. Sources say he has been “brainwashed” and has been persuaded to join the Catholic Patriotic Association, but he is allowed to receive visitors in the premises.

Sources said that other underground priests of the same diocese are also under pressure to join the government approved Church and are under strict surveillance by local authorities.

They explained that about half of the 40 or so underground priests of Xuanhua diocese have registered with the government to obtain special “priest cards” which allow them to work openly under government regulations. However, they continue to follow the leadership of underground Bishop Thomas Zhao Kexun of Xuanhua. The bishop, in his 80s, has been hiding from the government.

Some sources say that registered clergy “enjoy more freedom in movement and religious activities,” but have to attend political study sessions and seek permission from the local authority before organizing religious activities.

The late Bishop Philippus Petrus Zhao Zhendong of Xuanhua, who died in 2007, is understood to have allowed his underground priests to obtain priest cards for the sake of pastoral work since 2005.

The church managed by Father Simon
Zhang Jianlin who is under house arrest

The cards, a special measure put in place in Hebei province, are jointly issued by the provincial Catholic Patriotic Association and Church Affairs Committee.

The open Church merged Xuanhua diocese and neighboring Xiwanzi diocese to form Zhangjiakou diocese in 1980. It ordained bishops without Vatican approval, leading many underground Catholics to attend Masses at private venues.

In a bid to forge unity between the two Church communities, Bishop Zhao Zhendong in 2000 allowed three priests from the open community, who underwent priestly formation in government-sanctioned seminaries, to work under him. He ordered the cancellation of all private worship venues in his diocese and encouraged his laypeople to attend churches registered with the government.

However, opinion in the diocese is still divided on the matter with some priests and laypeople believing that the time is still not ripe for reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Father Joseph Cai Guixi of the same diocese appeared in court Oct. 20. This was after police arrested him in September on a charge of dangerous driving which allegedly caused the death of a priest and a Catholic couple in September 2008.

Catholics hope the case would be settled out of court in consideration of Father Cai´s health, as he was severely injured in the accident. They believe that government officials might press him to join the open Church.

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