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Reuters: Vatican’s informal mission to Hong Kong 2 nuns arrested in Hebei for alleged Beijing plans to influence the appointment of bishops

2020-12-30T21:26:02.765Z


Reuters published a long investigative report stating that two nuns of the Vatican's informal diplomatic mission in Hong Kong were arrested for three weeks while returning to their hometown in Hebei. They were then placed under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. Some senior members of the church believe that it reflects Beijing’s desire


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Written by: Yang Qian

2020-12-31 05:16

Last update date: 2020-12-31 05:16

Reuters published a long investigative report stating that two nuns of the Vatican's informal diplomatic mission in Hong Kong were arrested for three weeks while returning to their hometown in Hebei. They were then placed under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country.

Some senior members of the church believe that it reflects Beijing's desire to close this informal diplomatic mission and at the same time expand its control over the diocese of Hong Kong, including influencing the next bishop.

The investigation also pointed out that the Hong Kong diocese headed by Tang Han reviewed a statement on Sino-Vatican relations by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in October and removed the part of the statement that the underground bishop Su Zhimin has disappeared since 1997.

Mass in commemoration of the 31st anniversary of Tiananmen Square.

(Photo by Huang Baoying)

Two nuns have been held for three weeks under house arrest and have been banned from leaving the country

The Holy See has never officially established diplomatic relations with Beijing. As the only outpost to China, the Holy See's diplomatic mission in Hong Kong has a delicate status and has been acting in a low-key manner. The personnel and properties are not included in the official list of the Holy See.

He is not engaged in official work, and he did not even meet with Hong Kong officials.

Reuters quoted three clergy with knowledge of the fact that in May of this year, two nuns in their 40s who worked for the diplomatic mission were arrested by the mainland authorities when they returned to their hometown in Hebei Province. They were released after three weeks in custody. Xia has been under house arrest and is not allowed to leave China.

Senior Vatican officials believe the incident reflects Beijing’s desire to close this unofficial diplomatic mission.

Another Western diplomatic official revealed that China's National Security has strengthened its monitoring of diplomatic missions in recent months.

Senior Diocese of Hong Kong: Beijing's plans influence the candidates for the next bishop of Hong Kong Diocese

The Sino-Vatican agreement was renewed in October for a two-year period.

This provisional agreement that allows Beijing to appoint bishops in the Chinese diocese with more power to speak does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

A high-ranking diocese of Hong Kong told Reuters that Beijing is trying to expand the scope of the agreement and influence the candidates for the next bishop of the diocese.

Some priests in Hong Kong have received information from priests in the Mainland, revealing the CCP’s preference for the candidate for the next bishop in Hong Kong.

Cardinal Tom Han, the apostle of the Diocese of Hong Kong.

(Profile picture)

Tang Han revises the committee's statement to remove the missing bishop

With the implementation of the National Security Law, the diocese of Hong Kong is under pressure.

The report quoted four unnamed people familiar with the matter as saying that the Hong Kong diocese, headed by Tang Han, reviewed a statement on Sino-Vatican relations issued by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission on October 23 and dismissed the ministry of the underground bishop Su Zhimin in the statement. Su is the bishop of Baoding, Hebei Province recognized by the Vatican, but he is not officially recognized by the Chinese government. He has been missing since 1997, and his life is uncertain.

In August this year, Tang issued a letter to all the priests and deacons of the diocese, stating that he should not express personal opinions when preaching, "innuendo or incitement to hatred and slander and offensive remarks that cause social unrest."

"We are in a predicament-no more freedom of speech," the diocese card emeritus Chen Rijun wrote in response to a written interview with Reuters: "All these things are normal in mainland China. We are becoming like other cities in China."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Vatican has not established any official representative office in Hong Kong

The Liaison Office did not respond to a written question from Reuters.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Beijing did not answer the question about the nuns. When asked whether Beijing tried to close the unofficial diplomatic missions of the Vatican, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded: "As far as we know, the Vatican has not established any official representative office in Hong Kong."

A Vatican spokesperson also refused to respond to the report. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong responded in a statement that it has always encouraged the faithful to express their opinions. "Therefore, the diocese has not suppressed, but welcomes all kinds of voices." Cardinal Tang Han Rejected Reuters' request for an interview.

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Sino-Vatican Relations in the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2020-12-30

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