The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-04
New York Herald. 2lstl
Interview with q Chinese Prieat.

Interview with Chinese Priest.
The Rev. Father Joseph Van, a native Of
northwestern China, and missionary priest
has been for the past ten days the guest Of
the Rev. Dr.. McGlynn, of st. Stephens
(Roman Catholic) Church, in this city. The
present condition of China enprosses 90
much Of public attention that Herald re-
porter was sent to interview the reverend
Rather and get an accurate and reliable
statement of the prospects of Christianity
in the land of Confucianism. Buddhism and
Iao1ism. The reporter being introduced,
the following interesting conversation took
place in Latin, which language Father Van
speaks with much intelligence and fluency /:
Reperter-Rev. Father, the people of
America take much interest in the affairs
OF China, and will be pleased to read in
the Herald an account Of how Christianity
fares in your native country.
Father Van-I can only speak of the pro-
vince of Shan-se, in which I was brought
up and have offciated al an humble priest
OF God during the past twenty three years.
population of Shan-sef
Father Van-We have about seven thou
sand Catholics scattered through the pro-
vince. Twenty three priests-eighteen ma
tives and five Europeans-attend to the
spiritual wants of the faithful, and preach
Catholic doctrines to our unfortunate abre-
thren "who sit in darkness" and wallow in
the mire of degrading idolatry.
Reporter-DO not the Protestant mis-
sionaries help their Catholic brethren to
Christianize the Pagans of Shau-sef
Father Van-The PrQtestants have not
any settled mission in the province. Their
agents distribute tracts and Bibles, and oc-
borhood of the pagodas; but, as their visits
are only transient, they merely produce
doubts and erroneous ideas of the God
head in the minds of the idolaters. Hung
sewtseuen, the leader of the Tae- ping re-
bells in 1850, founded his erroneous belief
in "a divine commission on the doctrine of
some Christian tracts, which he interpreted
"to his own Destruction" and caused much
bloodshed and misery throughout the en-
tire Chinese Empire.
Reporter-Who is at the head of the Ca
tholic movement in Shan-se7
Father Van-The Pope, of course. We
Chinese Catholics are most loyal to the
Holy Father. But curl local superior is the
Most Rev. Vicar Apostolic, Celopolitanus.
He supervises the affairs of the Mission,
confirms, ordains, and discharges all the
duties of a bishop as we'll as those of an
apostle to the Gentiles.
Reporter-Have the Shan-se Catholics
full liberty of conscience
Father Van-Well, yes. The mandarins
do not openly persecute the Church of G 3D.
But Catholicism is hateful TO the Pagan
priests, and they have great influence over
the common people. Christianity in any
shape is merely tolerated through fear
(propter metum) of the European Powers
and the great American people. If the au-
thorities dared they would not leave a sin
gle protesting Christian in Shau-se.
Reporter ask you your object in
visiting New York;
Father Van-Seven months ago l left
Paote on my way to Rome to consult about
the affairs of my mission with Cardinal
Barnabo. After a long and wearisome
journey I reached the Pacific coast and
sailed for California. 1 spent a few days in
San Francisco, when 1 sailed for New
York. landed here on the 9TH of this
month, and have been the guest of the Rev.
DR.. McGlynn, who has treated me with
the greatest kindness and consideration.
He is, suppose you know, a graduate of
the College of the Propaganda, Rome, and
I, too, claim it as my Alma Mater. shall
sail for France on Saturday in the Vile du
Havre, and hope to pay my respects to His
Holiness, che Pope, early next month.
On Saturday last Father Van embarked
on the Vile du Havre, en- route to Rome
He is the only Chinese priest that has ever
been in America.