Leo XIV has now followed Francis in his betrayal of Chinese Catholics. The underground bishop Zhang Weizhu was effectively thrown under the bus in favour of the Beijing approved prelate Li Jainlin, now bishop of Xinxiang. Further, the ruling CCP intends to enforce it's ban on under 18-year olds - an affront that the Vatican seems willing to kow-tow to.
Why would the CCP ban under 18's apart from a hope to indoctrinate them - in the hope that they will abandon Catholicism?
Why would the Pope agree to this?
Why would he not tear up the agreement and call on Catholics to disobey Beijing and for Catholics worldwide to break all ties with CCP?
How should Christians (of any stripe) respond to padlocked buildings? Walk away and meet somewhere else. There are times (such as during Covid) when ethical obligations toward our neighbours might drive us to adopt measures in order to mitigate the spread of disease. But our choice to meet, not meet, or reconfigure our meetings is our choice - the Church's choice to make. Compliance with a state dictate may be the best and wisest option but it would be because of principles within Scripture - not because the state ordained it and has the authority to dictate practice to the Church.
Again, as far as I'm concerned the overwhelming vast majority (something on the order of 99%) of American churches lost any standing in terms of resistance because of their voluntary registration in which they submit to state organisational guidelines and reporting in order to qualify for tax exemption and have access to the financial and insurance markets. These bodies already sold out and so their protests and calls to resistance during Covid were farcical and hypocritical.
I actually think churches should have made an attempt to mitigate the spread of Covid - through meeting outdoors (not the silly parking lot church option), but simply meeting in open air venues. If this was in defiance of the state - oh well. It may have meant doing so in secret. In terms of meeting in buildings, taking measures was appropriate and at that point church leaders (who are in their right mind as opposed to the politicised muddle under which most operate) could work through the recommendations and guidelines. Obviously those of us who live in harsh winter climates would have to deal with that and (in some cases) come up with alternatives.
But returning to the issue at hand - the Vatican has put politics and political standing (and perhaps financial standing and gain) over basic ecclesiology and ethics. Let's face it, this is the Vatican, a morally compromised and largely farcical institution - that is assuming for the sake of argument its validity. We can't speak of expectations because it would be folly to have any to begin with. It's a compromised and false Church and this episode only accentuates that reality - a reality that has been in place for untold centuries.
The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) is the close cousin to the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) - ecclesiastical organisations of apostasy. The Chinese Catholic body is apostate twice over you might say.
The story is of interest due to the dynamics of Roman Catholicism and its interplay with Right-wing politics and the Evangelical movement. It's not hard to imagine a similar move being made by Evangelicals - despite their lack of central organisation and hierarchy. In this case, the ecclesiology of Rome effectively streamlines and consolidates the power and once Beijing has the upper hand it can force the pope and with him, the entirety of the myriad Roman Catholic institutions.
While I'm no fan of or advocate for Roman Catholicism, the raids on underground seminaries and the like are disturbing and a warning to the entire spectrum of Christianity and the Church in terms of what the Xi Jinping-led regime is all about and the measures it will take.
For my part, this has nothing to do with the rights or liberties born of the Enlightenment. For Christians, our worship and ecclesiastical life is something we are, something we do, something we pursue without permission. Even if granted, we care not for it. We will proceed regardless and should never compromise or cut deals.
Of course a politicised Church is already compromised and when pursued by the state suffers for political activism not for gospel testimony. If we stay true, there will be some regimes that will persecute, others that will not. Some will look the other way, others will realize the Church is no threat and in some respects can be a positive influence on society. It all depends on how they understand that society. Sacral states will seek a monolithic order and as such the Church will never be tolerated - even if it makes every form of compromise.
Rome can play games regarding Leo's 'assent'. Let's be blunt - he assented, and Zhang did not resign. He was forced out and betrayed by the very ecclesiastical body he gave his life to.
And the children of Roman Catholics in that diocese have also been betrayed. Clearly, world Catholicism is facing a crisis. Some have thought that Leo would calm the waters and bring stability. I think the can has been (at best) kicked down the road. The storm for Rome is still brewing and is about to break. Whether that's in a year or ten years I cannot say.
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