Lessons in “Patriotism” for Disobedient Underground Catholics [China]

Bitter Winter ^ | 11/20/18 | Feng Gang

[marshmallow]

Hebei authorities forcefully erected a flagpole with the Chinese flag outside the church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zhengding, the residence of Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, one the most prominent leaders of the Underground Catholic Church.

National symbols and Party propaganda play an essential role in President Xi Jinping’s “sinicization” policy. The initiative to hoist the national flag outside the places of worship, proposed by the state-sanctioned religious institutions in July this year, raised concerns among the underground Catholics as yet one more step toward the eradication of churches loyal to the Vatican.

In display of power, authorities in the northern province of Hebei raised the China’s national flag outside the church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zhengding, the home of Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo who has been detained multiple times and held under house arrest for nearly 30 years because of his refusal to join the government-approved Patriotic Catholic Church.

Party cadres showed up at the church in the village of Wuqiu in Jinzhou city on October 1 and forcibly dug up a pit to erect the flagpole. Bishop Jia, closely supervised by the authorities even at his residence, opposed the act and reiterated that the church was a place to worship God, not the Chinese flag.

According to eyewitnesses, to block the officials, an elderly friar jumped into the pit that was being dug, but the village cadres threatened to bury him alive if he did not come out of it.

[Truthoverpower]

Christ will
Take over China
Mark my words
Buddha already has roots

[dan sulivan]

God, from the heavens, look upon the sons of man.Glory Julius Jia Zhiguo.