Vatican Silence Over Shanghai’s Mgr Ma Daqin Causing Confusion and Controversy

AsiaNews ^ | 6/21/16 | Bernardo Cervellera

[marshmallow]

For some, Mgr Ma’s blog post praising the Patriotic Association and acknowledging his mistakes is nothing but “dirt”. For others, he chose humiliation for the “sake of his diocese”. Many wonder why the Holy See has remained silent about the article’s content and the bishop’s persecution. Some suspect the Vatican views the episode in positive terms. Yet, the Ma Daqin affair raises a major question. Has Benedict XVI’s Letter to Chinese Catholics (which describes the Patriotic Association as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine”) been abolished? If it has, who did it? A journey of compromises without truth is full of risks.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In Shanghai, confusion continues to prevail among Catholics following their bishop’s betrayal.

Mgr Thaddeus Ma Daqin, who spent four years under house arrest for quitting the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), “confessed” his errors on 12 June in an article in which he praised the CPCA for its the “irreplaceable role” in the development of the Church in China.

Many Catholics and friends of the bishop believe he was forced to write that article, and that its content is just “dirt”. However, a priest in northern China (also under government surveillance) has words of compassion for Mgr Ma.

“Mgr Ma Daqin’s change is understandable,” he told AsiaNews. He agreed to put up with all the humiliations [he received] after closely considering them. He did it for the sake of his diocese, so that he could go back to take care of it.

“The Chinese government was beside itself after 'losing face' to the bishop’s attitude four years ago. His contrition and praise for the Patriotic Association on his blog allow the government to regain its sense of honour, and this could make things easier for Ma himself."

Yet, for many Chinese Catholics, in different parts.....

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Vatican needs to be silent about SOMETHING.

[Arthur McGowan]

I would say there has never been a Pope who snuggles with totalitarians as this one does. And why shouldn’t he? He is their sock puppet.

[cloudmountain]

Ah, yes, I had forgotten the Chinese "loosing face" crap ideal.
I doubt that we ever hear anything from China except the party line, so why bother to pay any attention to it?

[ebb tide]

Pope Francis praises China in latest effort to thaw chilly relations

Like he did with Cuba and the Castro brother dictators, Francis seems to suck-up to any Communist country that will have him.

[Arthur McGowan]

When he’s not snuggling with a tranny or an abortionist.