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| Vatican 'will abandon Taiwan to win China's Catholics' |
| 2005-04-10 |
| The Vatican is preparing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan as part of an historic fence-mending exercise with Beijing that could allow Chinese Roman Catholics to practise freely for the first time in 50 years. The deal, discussed by a senior cardinal as Pope John Paul II was on his deathbed, would pave the way for an estimated eight million Roman Catholics to resume official ties with the Vatican and hold services without fear of persecution. Just hours after the Pope died last week, the outcome of the delicate negotiations was revealed by Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun from Hong Kong, who is considered the Vatican's leading adviser on Chinese issues. Bishop Zen said: "The Holy See has been thinking of giving up Taiwan. This is a difficult [decision], but it has decided to do it. If the Holy See does not establish [diplomatic] ties with China, Catholics there will not have real freedom." His comments came days after a visit to Beijing by the influential Belgian cardinal, Godfried Danneels, who is considered a potential successor to John Paul II. [T]he Vatican is hopeful of ushering in an era of improved relations. "If the Chinese government is willing to grant real freedom to the Church in mainland China, the Vatican would reluctantly be willing to give up its diplomatic relations with Taiwan," Bishop Zen said. China's Roman Catholic population frequently complains of being harassed and jailed by the authorities. Although there is also an official state-backed Catholic church, with about five million followers, it rejects any Vatican role in appointing its bishops or priests. Beijing is insisting, however, that the Vatican cuts ties with Taiwan, where about 300,000 of its 23 million people are Catholics, before any further official discussions are held. Taiwan has diplomatic relations with 25 countries, mostly developing nations in Africa and Latin America. Taiwan insisted that its relations with the Vatican would endure. "Relations between the Holy See and Taiwan will remain unchanged," a foreign ministry spokesman said in Taipei. "The foreign ministry will continue to push for mutual visits by the Vatican and Taiwanese leaders to strengthen bilateral understanding and consolidate relations." Bishop Zen said that the Vatican's desire to resume appointing bishops in China would not constitute interference with the country's domestic affairs. "The Pope appoints bishops everywhere and nobody is offended," he said. "We hope the Chinese government can understand this. The Holy See just wants religious peace for its people. It has no political ambitions whatsoever." Qin Gang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, reacted with scepticism, claiming that the country's state-approved Catholics "had chosen to run their church independently amid a struggle against colonialism, imperialism and slavery". He said that China's constitution banned religious groups and affairs from being controlled by foreign forces. It is thought that a compromise may be found in which Chinese and Vatican officials have a say in running the Catholic church. Mr Gang said that the Taiwanese president travelled to Rome simply to promote his country's ambitions for further recognition as a sovereign state. "His real intention is to take this opportunity to engage in secessionist activity and create two Chinas, or one China and one Taiwan, which is what we are opposed to," he said. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #11 This talk about abandoning Taiwan is jsut that: talk. Its about as relevant as most of the trash you are reading from the MSM regarding how the Church needs a "liberal" Pope. Basically, Soldano, a vatican insider, may have made some approaches, and the press got hold of it and is running with it. Problem for them is that Soldano, Et Al are going to be replaced when the new Pope is seated. The ONLY position that is acceptable is that the Catholic Church be given free and full exercise wherever it is to preach the truth, evangelize the Gospel, and minister to the faithful. If anything, the closest the Holy See will do is probably adopt the US position: Recognize Mainland China, but refuse to sever relationship with the Church (and government) in Taiwan. The problem with mainland China is that they have been imprisoning and killing Catholics who refuse to swear fealty to the Government, and put their obedience to the Church secondary to obedience to the Chinese state. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-04-10 10:40:52 PM |
| #10 This talk about abandoning Taiwan is jsut that: talk. Its about as relevant as most of the trash you are reading from the MSM regarding how the Church needs a "liberal" Pope. Basically, Soldano, a vatican insider, may have made some approaches, and the press got hold of it and is running with it. Problem for them is that Soldano, Et Al are going to be replaced when the new Pope is seated. The ONLY position that is acceptable is that the Catholic Church be given free and full exercise wherever it is to preach the truth, evangelize the Gospel, and minister to the faithful. If anything, the closest the Holy See will do is probably adopt the US position: Recognize Mainland China, but refuse to sever relationship with the Church (and government) in Taiwan. The problem with mainland China is that they have been imprisoning and killing Catholics who refuse to swear fealty to the Government, and put their obedience to the Church secondary to obedience to the Chinese state. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-04-10 10:40:52 PM |
| #9 This talk about abandoning Taiwan is jsut that: talk. Its about as relevant as most of the trash you are reading from the MSM regarding how the Church needs a "liberal" Pope. Basically, Soldano, a vatican insider, may have made some approaches, and the press got hold of it and is running with it. Problem for them is that Soldano, Et Al are going to be replaced when the new Pope is seated. The ONLY position that is acceptable is that the Catholic Church be given free and full exercise wherever it is to preach the truth, evangelize the Gospel, and minister to the faithful. If anything, the closest the Holy See will do is probably adopt the US position: Recognize Mainland China, but refuse to sever relationship with the Church (and government) in Taiwan. The problem with mainland China is that they have been imprisoning and killing Catholics who refuse to swear fealty to the Government, and put their obedience to the Church secondary to obedience to the Chinese state. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-04-10 10:40:52 PM |
| #8 The Vatican kissing up to the Chicoms and abandoning Taiwan will be another step in its losing of its moral authority. If they do this they will lose both the PRC and Taiwan. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-04-10 9:41:31 PM |
| #7 Joseph, I think you missed your medications this evening. |
| Posted by: Omeamp Phealing9643 2005-04-10 9:08:07 PM |
| #6 Doubt it, but I will say this - the Church and its next Pope is gonna need the international skills and repertoire of JP2 since the WOT is about KIND of GLOBAL GOVT, KIND OF EMPIRE, and KIND OF GLOBAL SOCIALISM/NWO, etc.... -ism's in general, where either America rules or the Commies ["regulators/empiricists"]do. IOW, an independent Vatican and God-State, etc. vs, Party/State-controlled, Secular-centric, minimalist "Churches" and other alleged "religious" orgs., ON A GLOBAL ORDER, NO LONGER REGIONAL OR EVEN TRANSNATIONAL!? ONCE THE VATICAN EST KAPUT, WORLD RELIGION OF ANY FAITH IS NEXT ON THE LEFTIST CHOPPING BLOCK - and now you know, boyz and girls, what NOSTRADAMUS meant when he described, "The HIDEOUS BEAST seen near Orgon", aka SATAN/LUCIFER [OMNI-GODZILLA-incarnate] rampaging across the world! 9-11 and the Commie Clintons is asmuch a Divine event, as it is human-centric treason and conspiracy, unleashing forces they only think they planned, and more importantly, they only think they control!!! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2005-04-10 7:04:47 PM |
| #5 Right On Frank G! The "Chicoms" will accept the Taiwan 'Divorce of the Church', and then turn right around to later condemn The Vatican for meddling in it's internal affairs. I guess the Church is already eyeing the moment when it will have to pull it's progress out of Hong Kong!! |
| Posted by: smn 2005-04-10 1:08:13 PM |
| #4 As if Diplomatic recognition will allow the Catholics in China free to worship? I call bullshit |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-10 10:58:35 AM |
| #3 The new Axis Powers? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-04-10 9:41:40 AM |
| #2 Time to focus on Phase II: China's getting more aggressive by the week, and in our own backyard as well as theirs. 100,000 Chinese advisers now in Cuba. Creating strategic relations with Chavez. Ramping up trade across latin America. How long before we see an Al Qaeda-Chavez-China united front? |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-10 9:32:46 AM |
| #1 Just hours after the Pope died last week... Given his history, I can't imagine Karol Wojtyla sucking up to the ChiComs like this. Such a modern triumph of Marketing over Morality! Poor old John Paul must be spinning in his grave already. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-04-10 9:05:59 AM |