| 30-Jul-2002 -- EWTNews Brief |  |
Posted on 07/30/2002 8:46:27 PM PDT by Salvation
| 30-Jul-2002 -- EWTNews Brief | |
STAMFORD, Connecticut, Jul 29, 02 (CWNews.com) - Three Catholic priests have been sentenced to prison in Communist China for violating a law aimed at "cults," according to the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation.
Fathers Pang Yongxing, Ma Shunbao, and Wang Limao were all sentenced to three years in a labor camp on July 7 for "disturbing the peace of society." All three men lived in Hebei province. Father Pang, 30, was arrested at his home last December, Father Ma, 50, was arrested at Easter while celebrating Mass, and Father Wang, 32, was arrested on Palm Sunday, also during Mass.
In addition, the foundation reports that six Catholics were arrested and forced to pay a $3,850 fine in Hebei in May for making an "illegal pilgrimage." These six were released after payment, but about a dozen more are being held because they cannot afford the fine, according to the foundation.
The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in churches that, while openly loyal to the government association, secretly pledge allegiance to the Pope.
Joseph Kung, the president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said that sentencing the priest under a law designed to suppress "cults" and to punish them for this in labor camps is "a transparent example that there is no religious freedom in China. It makes a mockery of the 'religious freedom' clause in the Chinese constitution."
Mindboggling in 2002.
God Bless and keep the Catholic Church in China.
China Sentences Three Priests under Cult Law
From The Desk Of Fr Joseph McLafferty:Bishop Francis X Ford,M.M.[MARTYR IN CHINA]
My prayers for those brave catholics in China.
With apologies to those who read it before. I just thought it worth repeating.
Red China is red with the blood of the martyrs. We must remember to pray for them.
Prayer to Our Lady of China
Hail, Holy Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother of all nations and all people.
You are the special heavenly Mother of the Chinese people.
Teach us, your way of total obedience to God's will.
Help us to live our lives true to our faith.
Fill our hearts with burning love for God and each other.
Stir up in our youth, an unconditional giving of self to the service of God.
We call on your powerful intercession for peace,
reconciliation and unity among the believers and conversion
of the unbelievers in China and throughout the world,
for God's mercy is our only hope.
Our Lady of China, Mother of Jesus,
hear our petitions and pray for us. Amen.
Imprimatur: Bishop William E. Lori
Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.