We could say that as the Universal Church became more familiar with the concrete reality, it began to accept the so-called official Church (the Communist Party-controlled "Patriotic Catholic Church" in China - CAP). This resulted in the beginning of a recovery process of the faithful of the official Church, with older bishops presenting themselves to the pope seeking forgiveness and asking to be recognised as bishops. The Holy See had a very open attitude to this: after necessary investigation and with the consensus of the legitimate underground bishop, it recognised many of the bishops, without ever demanding public announcements of their newly bestowed legitimacy of them. At the beginning this would have rendered the process of legitimisation very difficult. The Holy See’s tolerance was, to a certain extent, matched by the tolerance of the government. In fact at a certain point the latter came to know about these events but did not react with hostile acts or the suppression of those bishops who had obtained Rome’s approval.
A second phase was dealt with in the same way, in which young bishops after their election [according to the “democratic” election procedure imposed by the government – ed.] wanted to receive papal approval ahead of their ordination. In this case too the Church was very generous and approved many of them, naturally as long as they were acceptable. And in these cases the government turned a blind eye and did not refuse them for the fact that they had sought Rome’s approval. Therefore there was a period in which there were concessions and compromises so that everything could finally be officially put to rights.
But that never happened: there was no continuity in reflection, we pushed ahead inertly, without necessary meditation and without ever trying to really improve the situation.
Now we have arrived at a point in which it is no longer right or possible to accept further compromise. The moment is mature for a new chapter to begin. The Pope’s Letter to the Catholics of China (2007) must mark this new beginning. In fact the pope spoke very clearly about the principals that must guide this new phase in the life of the Church in China[1]. Unfortunately over the past two years this move towards greater transparency has not taken place. In fact it seems to me that we are worryingly sliding down the slope of compromise. The most disturbing episode, which goes against everything indicated by the pope, is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first illegitimate consecrations in 1958. This really worries me: it appears almost impossible to stop the shape events are taking. I truly am frightened by the prospect of the possible Assembly of the Catholic in China. Should that meeting, as I fear it will, succeed in securing the participation of many bishops and priests, it would mean the end. I repeat: it would mean the complete waste of all the efforts made in the previous years and it would be an insult to the Holy Father. Yes, it would be a slap in the face, because it would mean completely ignoring his Letter.
Joseph Cardinal Zen SDB
Excerpt from AsiaNews interview with Cardinal Zen, published last June 16: "Card. Zen: It is time to put into effect the Pope's Letter to China’s Catholics, whatever the cost"
Picture: Cardinal Zen during his Pontifical Mass according to the 1962 Missal last Easter Sunday
