Holy Father prays for freedom of Catholic Church in China
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Vatican City, Mar 31, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The Vatican has announced that during the month of April, Pope Benedict XVI will focus his prayer specifically on the plight of the much-persecuted Church in China.

The text of the Holy Father’s April mission intention, released today, is "That the Church in China may carry out its evangelizing mission serenely and in full freedom."

The Vatican is currently exploring ways to better serve Catholics in China, where the communist government has established a government-sponsored Church which discourages--sometimes violently--the faithful from giving primary adherence to the Holy Father.

A large underground Church, faithful to the Pope, exists as well, but experts say its religious liberties are being trampled by a closely-watching government.

China’s newly elevated Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has encouraged Catholics in the country to “be patient” as they wait for religious freedom. The Vatican has expressed an openness to listening to the Chinese government in hopes of compromise but China has insisted that it will not work with the Holy See unless they break ties with China.

The Church has consistently rejected that idea.

Pope Benedict has said that he is open to a trip to China in the near future, but said that he’s leaving the timing up to God.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Paul
Hanover/MA/USA 04/02/2006 10:27 PM EST
The Chinese government is not interested in acknowledging any other power entity outside of the government itself. The Catholic church is seen as a threat to their perceived control of their population.
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Published by: George Angel
Canada 04/01/2006 02:10 PM EST
The vineyards in China are full, but the labourers are few. Let us pray and hope that Catholics, especially in China, are allowed to publicly be able to profess and practice their faith. With 8 million Chinese Catholics worshipping in an underground church in China, the Pope's April intentions for religious freedom in that country are most timely and heaven sent. That the people in China still practice their Catholic faith in an underground church should be a sign to the rest of the world that God is alive and well even in a world that is filled with darkness. Hope is in the air. A new day is rising in China and throughout the world when people of faith will not be persecuted for their religious beliefs. Something very special and miraculous is about to take place in China! Let us pray along with Pope Benedict XVI in the month of April for the freedom from religious persecution in China and throughout the entire world.
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