Dec 13, 2011
My question concerns travel to China. What is the best way to meet the Sunday obligation to attend Mass? Any visible churches are part of the Catholic Patriotic Association controlled by China and not in communion with Rome. Should we skip Mass altogether? Should we attend the services available but not receive Communion? I'm assuming Communion at these churches would not be valid. I know some bishops and priests in the Patriotic Association have secretly reconciled with Rome, but we would have no way of knowing who that would be. Also, it would be difficult and foolish to try to find Mass at an underground church. We never miss Mass when we travel but I'm not sure what the best course of action would be in this case. Any guidance you could give would be helpful.
The situation of the Catholic Church in China is complex and ambiguous, and Benedict XVI recognizes that. So let me offer some clear advice and then an explanation. First, you should not skip Mass altogether. If you can safely attend Sunday Mass celebrated by an “underground” priest who is loyal to Rome, that could be your first option. But you should not assume that a cleric who is recognized by the Chinese civil authority is not united to Rome. You can in good conscience, attend Mass celebrated by a priest or bishop who is a member of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, if you can not find anything else. It is not clear that the sacraments are invalid; nor is it clear that they are not in union with Rome.
For example, Benedict XVI invited at least two bishops from the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association to attend the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist in Rome in 2005; and in 2006 Beijing cooperated with the Holy See in the naming of a new bishop. To this point Benedict XVI wrote in 2007: “The lay faithful too, who are animated by a sincere love for Christ and for the Church, must not hesitate to participate in the Eucharist celebrated by Bishops and by priests who are in full communion with the Successor of Peter and are recognized by the civil authorities.”
Those who “are recognized by the civil authorities” are members of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and you can assume they are in communion with Rome unless you are certain that they are not.