Church in the World

Bush China trip boosts religious freedom hopes

Asia

GEORGE W. BUSH?s call for China to embrace religious freedom has led to a flurry of diplomatic activity between Beijing and the Vatican.

During his three-day visit to Beijing, which ended on Monday, the United States president prayed in a government-sanctioned Protestant church before telling Chinese President Hu Jintao it was important that ?social, political and religious freedoms grow in China?. He also suggested that Vatican representatives should be invited to China to discuss religious freedom.

On Monday, the recently appointed US ambassador to the Vatican said that supporting the Vatican?s push for greater religious freedom in China would be a priority of his tour of duty. Ambassador Francis Rooney said ?China has a great opportunity following the president?s visit to become more open to the Holy See and to work toward greater freedoms for its Catholic citizens and indeed for those of all faiths.?

In recent months there have been signs of improving relations between the Vatican and Beijing. After the death of John Paul II in April, there were widespread reports that the Chinese Government was ready to talk seriously about reopening full diplomatic relations, which have been severed since the emergence of Communism in the country in 1951.

The Pope has been reaching out to Beijing in a bid to bring the country?s 12-15 million Catholics under Rome?s wing. Worship in China is allowed only in government-controlled, ?patriotic? churches, although many Catholics belong to underground churches, loyal to Rome, which are subject to irregular harassment and arrests.

China?s negotiating conditions stipulate that the Vatican must not interfere in the country?s internal affairs by appointing bishops there but, since April, several new bishops chosen by the Vatican have received government approval. Beijing is also emphatic that diplomatic relations cannot be reopened until the Vatican breaks off formal ties with Taiwan.

The Vatican today is one of only 25 states that officially recognises Taiwan. Last month Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Secretary of State, said the Vatican was ready to move its ambassador in Taipei to Beijing ?immediately?, provided that China guaranteed full religious freedom to Christians and treated the Vatican ?fairly?.

He also confirmed that there have been recent ?conversations? with Chinese representatives about the prospects for formal diplomatic ties.

A visit to Taiwan this week by a senior Vatican official has furthered speculation. The week-long trip by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican archivist ? who was the Vatican?s top foreign-policy official from 1991 until 2003 and remains a close confidant of the Pope ? has prompted suspicions that the Vatican is seeking to push forward plans of establishing a diplomatic post in Beijing.

Tensions remain, however. Earlier this year, Beijing reneged on promises to grant visas enabling four Chinese bishops to attend the Synod of Bishops in Rome, and to allow the Sisters of Mother Teresa to open a home for the elderly in China. And just last week the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation said Beijing was still harassing Catholics loyal to Rome and had recently detained an underground Catholic priest and 10 seminarians.

?China is still afraid of religious freedom,? a bishop of the underground Catholic Church told AsiaNews.
Michael Hirst