Dear Friends:
The underground church needs
your help during this new wave of astronomical
fines, house arrests of bishops and priests, as well as
detentions. Our information program bringing these truths to the
free world must be our 1996 priority.
MISINFORMATION
Frequently, our readers send us clippings from various
publications and draw our attention to the fact that the
situation of the persecuted Roman Catholic Church in China is
grossly misrepresented.
One German based Catholic charitable organization falsely claimed
in its newsletter that no "theological divergences"
exist between the Chinese Communist government founded
"Patriotic Association" and the persecuted Roman
Catholic Church in China. It further claimed that "both
have...the same Faith..."! This organization has been
financially supporting the Chinese Catholic Patriotic
Association.
For many years, a New York based Catholic missionary and a New
Jersey based bureau have consistently called the "Patriotic
Association" a "Catholic" church. It presented the
activities of the "Patriotic Association" as evidence
of religious freedom in China. It kept silence on the continued
imprisonment, fine, and physical abuse of the Roman Catholic
Church.
A rector of a well known seminary, after a tour of the Patriotic
Association churches and seminaries in China, gave a glowing
report on the diocesan newspaper regarding the religious freedom
of the "Catholic Church in China".
A foreign Catholic priest emphasized in his speech that there are
two Catholic churches in China. One is the "official"
church known as the "Patriotic Association"; the other
one is the "unofficial" church known as the Roman
Catholic church which has been underground. He concluded both are
Catholic churches!
The media, including some Catholic newspapers, continues to
describe the "Patriotic Association" as a Catholic
church without revealing it as the "Patriotic
Association".
We are extremely concerned that this often innocent and sometimes
deliberate climate of misinformation has left the persecuted
Roman Catholic Church unaided, and caused the persecution to
perpetuate. We desperately need your prayers for our loving
Mother's protection.
KNOWLEDGE AS OUR DRIVING IMPETUS
Through our newsletter, press releases, and conferences, we are
aware that many of our readers became aware that they were
assisting the Patriotic Association by their donations to
projects which they thought were Roman Catholic.
We embrace the basic United Nations principles - the freedom to
worship. More importantly, we respect that people may support any
religion of their choice. Underlying this belief and our mission
is our driving impetus - truth, knowledge, and education.
Consequently, many readers have expressed their appreciation of
learning the true nature of the Patriotic Association and the
meaning of "freedom of religion" in China.
It is not our purpose to dissuade people from contributing to
organizations of their choice, even to the Patriotic Association.
People are free to support any institution in which they believe.
However, we hope to present to all the friends of China with the
complete set of facts so that they can make informed choices.
PROFILE AND HISTORY OF PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION
In view of the above, we present to you "THE
CHINESE CATHOLIC PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION". In
this article, we will examine this organization by contrasting
the Roman Catholic Church with the Patriotic Association's
history, structure, and principles, leading to the inevitable
conclusion that the Patriotic Association is not a Roman Catholic
Church. Current issues and confusion on the Patriotic Association
will be discussed. In order to be comprehensive in its contents,
some of the previously published material by this foundation will
be reintroduced.
Supplementing to this article is a reprint of an article Hypocrisy or Tactful Machination?
by Rev. Matthias Lu, Ph.D., S. Th.L., Th.D., Director and CEO of
Saint Thomas Aquinas Center. This article, originally published
by Catholic International on its January 1996 issue, will add
insight to the Patriotic Association.
TESTIMONY
BEFORE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
On February 15, 1996, I testified on the continuous and
intensified persecution of the Roman Catholic Church before the
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights of the
House Committee on International Relations of the United States
Congress. We thank those readers who witnessed the hearings.
DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES
As part of the intensifying persecution on the Roman Catholic
Church in China, many underground churches were destroyed, as
recently as 1995, by the Chinese government. An account of the
destruction is described in my testimony before Congress.
TRAINING OF SEMINARIANS
During the past year, many of you were kind enough to support our
seminarian program at $ 600 per year. In the United States, the
education of a seminarian cost over $10,000 per year. The
underground seminary can carry on with such meager finances only
by the many sacrifices of the seminarians and everyone involved
in their education. We sincerely hope that you will renew your
support as each seminarian requires at least four years of
studies. New pledges are also urgently needed.
YOUR CONTINUING
SUPPORT
Thank you once again to all who have supported us by prayers and
donations. Some readers have received our newsletters during the
past years, but never contributed. We ask you kindly to consider
an annual gift of $ 25 which will cover the production and
mailing of this newsletter. Your additional generosity will help
to maintain the Foundation and carry out projects.
We understand that some of our friends may not be able to afford
this annual donation, but are supporting our work with prayers.
We would gladly accept smaller donations with equal gratitude. If
you cannot contribute, please let us know of your continuing
interest. Otherwise, due to economic realities, we regret that we
can no longer afford to send you this newsletter. Thank you once
again for your generosity.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter season,
Joseph Kung
, President