H. Res. 804

In the House of Representatives, U.S., 

June 12, 2006.

Whereas the Catholic Patriotic Association of China is a government-sanctioned organization that does not represent 

the majority of Chinese Catholics, and has been used by 

the Government of the People’s Republic of China to oppress Catholics who choose to remain loyal to the Pope 

as their spiritual leader; 

Whereas on April 30, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association of China conducted 

an unauthorized episcopal ordination of the priest Joseph 

Ma Yinglin, elevating him to the office of bishop without 

the approval and against the wishes of the Holy Father 

Pope Benedict XVI; 

Whereas on May 3, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association of China conducted 

an unauthorized episcopal ordination of the priest Joseph 

Liu Xinhong, elevating him to the office of bishop without the approval and against the wishes of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI; 

Whereas on May 14, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association of China installed 

Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu as Bishop of Mindong Diocese 

without the approval and against the wishes of the Holy 

Father Pope Benedict XVI; 
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•HRES 804 EH 

Whereas according to information reported by the Vatican, 

bishops and priests in the People’s Republic of China 

have been subjected to strong pressures and threats to 

take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illicit and, besides, contrary 

to their conscience; 

Whereas the entire world follows with attention the progress 

of religious freedom in China and had hoped that such 

deplorable episodes by now would belong to the past; 

Whereas following a trip to China in August 2005, the 

United States Commission on International Religious 

Freedom reported that the Chinese Government continues to systematically violate the right to freedom of 

thought, conscience, and religion or belief, contravening 

both the Chinese Constitution and international human 

rights norms; 

Whereas on May 3, 2006, the United States Commission on 

International Religious Freedom announced its 2006 recommendations to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 

and continued to identify China as one of ten ‘‘Countries 

of Particular Concern’’; 

Whereas Chinese law and policy restrict religious activities to 

those activities associated with the five officially-sanctioned ‘‘patriotic’’ religious organizations; 

Whereas all other collective religious activities in China are 

illegal, and individuals from ‘‘unregistered’’ religious 

groups are subject to harassment, detention, and arrest; 

Whereas freedom of religious expression is a fundamental 

right enshrined in the United States Constitution and 

recognized by all civilized nations; and 
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Whereas China, like all members of the United Nations, is 

bound by Article 18 of the Uniform Declaration of 

Human Rights which states: ‘‘Everyone has the right to 

freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in 

public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in 

teaching, practice, worship and observance’’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the 

actions of the Government of the People’s Republic of 

China to coerce Catholic bishops in China, both those in 

the Catholic Patriotic Association of China and those 

who remain loyal to the Pope, to violate their consciences 

and consecrate bishops in defiance of Rome; 

(2) extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to 

the Catholic population of China and the Catholic 

Church for this insult to their beliefs and religious practices; 

(3) reaffirms the right of all religious organizations 

to choose their leaders in a manner that is free of intimidation, terror, or coercion in accordance with Article 18 

of the Uniform Declaration of Human Rights; 

(4) urges the Government of China to end its repression of religious organizations, recognize the ecclesiastical authority of religious leaders to provide spiritual 
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leadership to their followers, and end the practice of only 

allowing religious worship through state-sanctioned patriotic religious associations; and 

(5) encourages the Government of China to refrain 

from additional ordination of Catholic bishops while the 

Vatican and the Catholic Patriotic Association of China 

resolve their differences and adopt a mutually acceptable 

process for approving the elevation of bishops.

Attest: 

Clerk.