A Catholic church was demolished in China because the pastor refused to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
Newsroom (31/07/2022 13:00, Gaudium Press) A church in the city of Youtoung, in the diocese of Zhengding, was demolished at the end of last June.
Church destroyed
The authorities moved ahead to destroy the church because the pastor, Father Dong Baolu, refused to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The association is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party
The demolition of the church took place during the Fr. Dong’s absence. The priest suffers from hemiplegia, a disease that leaves one part of the body paralyzed, and was in hospital for tests.
This priest refused to pay allegiance to the Communist Party.
Fr. Dong said that of the 100 priests in the diocese, he was the only one who refused to obey the church which is controlled by the Communist Party.
In February 2018, the Communist Party created new rules regarding religious activities in the country.
Obligations include: membership of official associations and submission to the Chinese Communist Party in order to exercise religious functions.
Religious persecution despite treaty between Vatican and China
In 2018, the Vatican signed an agreement with China on episcopal appointments in the country and the agreement was renewed in 2020.
Even with the treaty, the persecution against the so-called “clandestine” (true) Catholic Church continues to grow.
Bishop Pietro Shao Zhumin and a number of priests have been kidnapped, in addition to the exercise of strict control over the goods and finances of the churches. (FM)
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
