Changing Church-State Relations in Contemporary China: A Case Study of the Cangzhou Diocese

Abstract

Changing Church-State Relations in Contemporary China: A Case Study of the Cangzhou Diocese Shun-hing Chan The Eighth National Congress of Catholic Representatives (NCCR) was scheduled to take place on 7-9 December 2010, in accordance with the dictates of the Chinese government. On 6 December, government officials and police officers went to the Bishop's Office in Xian County, Hebei Province, intending to escort Bishop Li Liangui 李連貴 of Cangzhou Diocese to the NCCR in Beijing. However, they could not find him. A few weeks earlier, on 20 November, Bishop Li was coerced into taking part in an Episcopal ordination in Chengde 承德, which was arranged by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) but was not approved by the Vatican. It was during this time that Bishop Li "disappeared." Frustrated by Bishop Li's disappearance, government officials and police officers rounded up the priests who were working in the bishop's office, including the vicar general, Father Yang Quanen 楊全恩, and the chancellor, Father Yu Rusong 于汝松, and questioned them about the whereabouts of Bishop Li. Their questioning was to no avail. The priests were given an "ultimatum," threatening to list Bishop Li as a "wanted person" across the country and to cause trouble for the Bishop's family, friends, and the diocese. On 7 December, government officials and police officers again entered the Bishop's Office to question everyone, including the priests, doorkeepers and kitchen staff. Police cars patrolled the area nearby, and the freedom of all personnel in the church was restricted, including the ______________________________

Changing Church-State Relations in Contemporary China

“…The competition between the open and underground churches, the mediating role of the Vatican, and the pragmatism of the government are three key factors contributing to the church-state relations in mainland China (Chan and Lam 2002). The open and underground churches compete for legitimacy through the recognition of bishops by the Vatican and, by extension, its support of their priests and the Catholic laity.…”