The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-04-11

The Red plan calls fol
patriotic" bishops especial
faithful to Rome still exercise
their authority; the financial de-
pendence of all priests upon
the state; and the training of
seminarians under the aegis of
the state-controlled Patriotic AS
ISOLATION Of Chinese Catholics.
The communist Picking Peo-
pies Daily states that at a re-
cent meeting the patriotic as
ISOLATION in Fukien urged Cath
olics to accept Communist party
leadership, and announced that
ito guarantee an independent
church" bishops would be elect
ed throughout the province be-
fore May l.
Patriotic bishops are known
to have been elected already in
Shanghai, Chengtu, Canton, 500
chow, and Tsinan.
The Shensi Jih Pao, reporting
an indoctrination meeting of
Catholics in Shensi province,
states that the patriotic associa-
ton there proposed that secret
promotions given to black bish-
ops and black priests" (vicar
capitular) be henceforward con-
sidered illegal" in China.
This move paves the way for
the arrest and trial Of all Cath.
olic ordinaries loyal to the Ho'
ly See who have been appoint
ed by Rome since the commun-
lists took over mainland China
in 1949.
Messages from Chinese priests
reveal that in an attempt to dis
guise their persecution, the Chi
nese Reds are employing fallen
away Catholics and secret agents
in the patriotic association. As
in Canton, these apostates anc
agents publicly accuse the bish
op of all manner Of crimes
against the state, which are ex
banded and magnified in the 10
cal communist press.
Finally the government "of
ficially" steps in, arrests the
bishop and announces that it ]:
not prosecuting the bishop, bu'
only acting in accordance witt
the demands. of the Catholics
Further word received here
from priests who have beer
forced to undergo special indoc
trination in the past four or five
months describes the economic
pressure applied to those whit
have consistently refused 1T
join the patriotic association
voluntarily"
Without any means Of sup
port than eeratin house rents
and offerings Of the faithful,
which are now collected and
administered by the patriotic
association. priests are COM
pletely dependent upon the
communists as their sole
source Of income.
During at least one indoctri
nation course held in Canton, al
Income ($15 monthly was d.
MED those priests who oppose
the establishment Of the patr.
otto association in KWangtun
province.
In addition, before they wer
allowed to return to their home
when the meeting was concluG
ed, all the priests being held i
Canton were forced to sign a pr
per promising not to receive f
nancial help from any foreig
sources. They were told that
any violation of this: promis
were detected, they would b
Immediately arrested and in
prisoned.
A special resolution reporte
TO have been Unanimously al
proved" by Catholics attendin
the indoctrination course flo
Shensi province calls for tn
training of patriotic" priest
and religious in seminaries an
novitiates throughout China.
As reported in the Shensl
Jih Pao, the resolution de-
mands that the faculty and di.
rectors Of seminaries and no.
vitisfes be "patriofie-minded,
THAT the curriculum include
patriotic subjects in addition
to required courses on reiis-
ion," and That students or
noviees who were not "patri-
otto" be denied ordination or
religious profession.
The attitude Of Chinese REQ
towards religion in general we
summed up in a recent stat
ment of Chang Chih-yi, deput