Chinese police have detained Father Fei Jisheng from Liaoning Diocese for six months. The priest was tried recently in court but no verdict was given. (ucanews.com photo)
Supporters of an open church priest tried over allegations of embezzlement in northern China insist he was instead arrested for his evangelization work and say they are concerned that no verdict has been so far announced.
Father Fei Jisheng from Liaoning Diocese was arrested for allegedly stealing money from a retirement home six months ago and was tried in secret at Gaizhou Court in Yingkou, a city in northeastern Liaoning province on March 21.
Police stood guard outside and only four witnesses and Father Fei's lawyers were allowed in while dozens of Catholics sang hymns and prayed outside. Following the trial, Catholics are concerned that no verdict has been forthcoming.
"We were told that the judgment would be made on March 23 but the court said it would pass judgement in two weeks without giving any explanation," said a Liaoning church source who asked not to be named.
"I think the court knows Father Fei is innocent but still want to declare him guilty. Given so many Catholics across China are closely watching this case, it isn't easy to pass sentence," said the source.
Earlier, ucanews.com reported that police arrested Father Fei while he was visiting a convent in Fushun city in Liaoning province on Oct. 18. Following his arrest, the head of the police told the priest's lawyers that his case was "related to religious issues" and it was a "state secret."
Father Dong Hongchang, vicar general of Liaoning, told ucanews.com earlier that he believed his colleague's arrest may be related to the Apostolic Class, an evangelical program that Father Fei enthusiastically promoted. The communist government sees it as an illegal organization.
Revenge of a disgruntled layman
A 30-page document circulating among Catholics on social media, claims to offer the true story of Father Fei's arrest. The document, which is believed to have been written by members of the Apostolic Class, alleged Father Fei's arrest was due to Han Weixing, the lay vice chairman of the retirement home. Father Fei, who helps manage the home, suspected Han of corruption and removed him in May 2016.
Han reported to the local religious affairs bureau that Father Fei was "preaching illegally" but in vain. He then filed his complaint with higher authorities who started to investigate the priest and the Apostolic Class in June 2016.
The same month, members of the Apostolic Class transferred the safe box to the Bishop's Office in Shenyang and, with Father Fei's permission, they used the money, about 10,000 yuan (US$1450), to pay debts incurred in their programs.
The priest's lawyers said Father Fei could not be convicted of stealing because the safe box belonged to him, according to the document.
Other Catholics in Liaoning told ucanews.com that they heard a similar story.
However, they believe that charges of theft was a pretext to arrest the priest because authorities were worried about his evangelization activities as part of the Apostolic Class.