The
Cardinal Kung Foundation

ONLINE NEWSLETTER

August 2006   

Dear Friends:

In recent times, among other news, there have been two incidents that stand out and that have a significant bearing on Catholics in China.  While there is something positive about each incident, there is something confusing about the first incident, and the second is marred by a clear contradiction.

Pope Benedict XVI Publicly Excommunicating Four Patriotic Bishops
Raises An Important Issue:
Is the Patriotic Official Church in Schism from the Roman Catholic Church?

The first incident occurred on May 4.  His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI publicly announced the automatic excommunication of two bishops ordained by two bishops of the Patriotic Official Church, China’s state-controlled Church, without the Pope’s consent.  The Holy Father also publicly announced the automatic excommunication of the two other bishops who ordained them. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls cited Article 1382 of the Roman Catholic Church’s Canon Law.  That article states that “both the bishop who, without a pontifical mandate, consecrates a person a bishop, and the one who receives the consecration from him, incur a latae sententiae excommunication,” which means they are automatically excommunicated. Mr. Navarro-Valls, adding that the Pope was very saddened by the ordinations, noted:  “It is a great wound to the unity of the Church.” 

The positive aspect of this papal act is clear. Out of love for the Church, in manly defense of the Church, the Bride of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI cut those offending bishops off from the Body of Christ because they were harming the Church.  I am personally very happy to see that, after a half century of Vatican reticence about so many unauthorized ordinations by the Patriotic Official Church, the Pope has finally publicly announced the automatic excommunication of those four Patriotic bishops.

Nevertheless, Pope Benedict XVI's action raises an important question about the Roman Catholic Church in China.  By the logical interpretation of the Church's Canon Law, only those who are NOT in schism from the Roman Catholic Church are subject to excommunication if they violated certain Church laws as defined by Canon Law.  If they are already schismatic, or put in another way, if they are already outside of the Roman Catholic Church - and everyone has a right and freedom to belong to any Church of his choice - there is no reason for the Pope to excommunicate those who do not belong to his Church just because they have done something that is not agreeable with the Roman Catholic's Church law.  Otherwise, the Pope would have excommunicated millions upon millions of people! 

To make my point as clear as possible, let me offer an example.  According to the Roman Catholic Church's Canon Law, the Church of England is considered to be in schism from the Roman Catholic Church.  When the Archbishop of Canterbury ordains new bishops, even if validly in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, he neither first requests the permission of the Pope, nor does he incur automatic excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church because he is already not in communion with the Pope. 

Therefore, by announcing the automatic excommunication of the four Patriotic Association bishops, is the Pope in fact saying that the Patriotic Official Church is NOT in schism?  However, the Patriotic Official Church has been ordaining bishops without the Pope's mandate for the last 49 years since 1957 and its constitution still has an article very specifically declaring its autonomy from the Pope.  These two facts would seem to define the "characteristic of being in schism" that was precisely declared by Monsignor Nugent, the Vatican representative in Hong Kong in charge of the see of China, when he wrote in 2004 that the Patriotic Official Church has "the characteristic of being in schism."  This being so, how can the Pope imply that the Patriotic Official Church is not in schism?  It is very confusing and I do not understand. 

I admit that I have no theological expertise.  I am posing this question to the public, especially to theologians, and welcome their comments.  If you are confused about these questions, I do not blame you.  They could be clarified easily if the Vatican would make a clear statement about whether the Patriotic Official Church is in schism.  They have not done so.  As a result, the faithful, especially the underground Roman Catholic Church in China, are left with second guessing the Vatican's goal and resolution.  That is not fair.

The Vatican's China Policy and an Underground Bishop's Death

I am beginning to wonder whether this policy can simply be described as confused and confusing.  I am beginning to wonder whether it is also a matter of real politik, especially when I consider what did not happen but should have happened on the occasion of the funeral of Bishop Guo Wenzhi, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang, who died June 29, 2006 at the age of 88 after a long illness.  (See the Foundation press release dated June 29 on our website.)  

Bishop Guo Wenzhi died when the Vatican delegation was visiting Beijing, negotiating China-Vatican relations.  It was my fervent hope that, while the members of the Vatican delegation was in China, they would go to the funeral of the bishop - who had proved his lifelong love, loyalty and obedience to the Pope in an extremely hostile environment - in order to show the Vatican's solidarity with the underground Roman Catholic Church.  They did not do so.  If they were unable to attend the funeral for whatever reason, they should at least have shown their faces and respect at the wake where the late bishop laid, or simply go to the late bishop's diocese to personally register their condolences.  However, they did not do that either.  If the delegation had requested to attend the funeral or the wake, but was refused by the Chinese authority, the Vatican delegation could have made an announcement of this Chinese refusal so that the public would at least understand that the thought of attending the late bishop's funeral or wake was not overlooked by the Vatican.  This would also have proven the Vatican's solidarity with the underground Church.  However, this did not happen.  By not attending the wake and funeral, and by remaining quiet about the death of Bishop Guo, the Vatican delegation in effect sent a very wrong message to both the Beijing government and the Roman Catholic Church in China.  Every reasonable Catholic hopes for a lasting and honest relationship between China and the Vatican.  However, precisely because this is the goal, the most important factor must be that, regardless of other important dogmatic and diplomatic issues, the Vatican must have a very clear, well defined, and implemented China policy so that no one will misunderstand. Unfortunately, with all my due respect, the Vatican's words and deeds in relation to China have given the impression to the public that its China policy is anything but clear.  For details, please read my open letter to the Vatican of March 2000.  It is available on the Foundation's website.

Patriotic Association Condemns The Da Vinci Code, But Calls for Contraception, Abortion, and Condemns Canonization of Chinese Saints

The second incident occurred on May 10. The Patriotic Official Church urged its followers to boycott the movie, The Da Vinci Code, and accused the film's makers of "violating religious ethics and morals and insulting the feelings of clergy and followers." Although we cannot know the Patriotic Official Church's real intention in boycotting The Da Vinci Code movie (were they trying to appease the Pope after four of their bishops were publicly excommunicated?), I agree that such a boycott is the right thing to do. However, we can ask some questions.

First, although there are no texts in Scripture that directly address abortion, the Scripture's teaching, "thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13), logically extends to the unborn.  Pope John Paul II makes this point very clear in his encyclical, The Gospel of Life.  If the Patriotic Official Church truly believes in Scripture and the Church's teaching as they presumably intended to manifest by boycotting the movie, The Da Vinci Code, why does it not also condemn the abortions in China?  On the contrary, the teaching of the Patriotic Official Church as stated in its first pastoral letter on the Dignity and Responsibility of Women (Catholic International January 1996, Pages 24-26) directly violates the teaching of the Catholic Church.  This pastoral letter was issued by the bishops of the Patriotic Official Church during the first conference on women in Beijing in September 1995 that was sponsored by the United Nations Conference on Women.  This pastoral letter openly advised women to implement "China's platform for the development of women."  This platform included contraception, sterilization, and the one family-one child policy whereby women who are pregnant after having one child are forced by the Chinese government to abort their unborn babies.

Secondly, is the Patriotic Official Church truly concerned about the welfare of the Church?  What about their illegitimate bishops' ordinations?

Thirdly, what about the very nasty and severe protest by the Chinese government and the Patriotic Official Church when Pope John Paul II canonized 120 martyr saints in China in October 2000?

Isn't this an interesting pattern? T he Patriotic Association decides when to be faithful to the Church's teaching and when not to be faithful.  It can remind us of something that Saint Paul wrote: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths." (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

Underground Roman Catholic Bishop Arrested

Bishop Jia Zhiguo, the underground Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Zheng Ding in Hebei Province , was arrested again by the religious bureau personnel of Jin Zhou in Heibei on June 25, 2006 while he was still very sick with his catheter in place after his operation in early June.  This is the ninth time that he has been arrested since January 2004.   We do not know where he is now.

In the morning of that day on June 25, the authority informed the nursing staff taking care of Bishop Jia at the local hospital that a car was being sent to take the bishop home to Wu Qiu.  In fact, the Chinese authority was forcing the bishop out of the hospital before the completion of his medical care.  By noon, when his faithful still did not see him coming back, they began to inquire to the religious bureau about the reason for the delay.  The religious bureau told them that the bishop was being sent for “education” for several days.  The faithful had thought that the delay was due to the arrival of the Vatican delegation in Beijing because the authority has had a policy of taking the bishop away when there have been important people in town.  If so, and inasmuch as the Vatican delegation has left China, Bishop Jia should have been released in consideration of his bad health.  He is still in detention and his whereabouts are unknown.

Bishop Jia is 72 years old and was ordained a bishop in 1980.  He was previously in jail for approximately 20 years and has been under strict surveillance for many years.  He takes care of approximately 100 handicapped orphans in his house. 

China Policy of Freedom Loving Countries and Corporations

To kick a person out of a hospital and send him away for detention with his catheter still in place and without adequate medical care is obviously naked evidence of total violation of human rights in China.   I appeal to both the governments and the corporations of freedom loving countries to take into greater consideration – consistently and persistently, and not haphazardly – all human rights violations, including this one reported above, and other issues as listed below for boycotting the Chinese made products when forming and implementing their respective political and commercial decisions of their China policies.

The Olympic Games In China In 2008 Should Be Cancelled

Moreover, once again I urge the Olympic Committee to consider canceling the Games in China in order to preserve their good name and spirit.  Otherwise, the noble name of “Olympic” could be severely tarnished by its association with religious persecution and human rights violations in China.

Boycott Chinese Made Products

I also once again renew my appeal to the public to boycott the Chinese made products.  Consider the following factors:                  

1. Many Chinese products are made by religious prisoners incarcerated in labor camps or by laborers employed by Chinese military enterprises.

2. Continuous and brutal persecution of religious believers since 1949.  The U. S. Secretary of State had concluded that the Chinese Government pervasively violates the right to freedom of religion and belief, and labeled China for the seventh straight year a “country of particular concern”.

3. The rampant black market harvesting human organs for sales from the Chinese prisoners for transplantation.

4. The violation by the Chinese government in the nuclear transfer agreement resulting in, among other violations, supplying nuclear technology to Iran and Pakistan .

5. Lukewarm efforts by the Chinese government in curbing the development of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea .

6. Some dual-use products sold to China ended up in military application – for example, McDonnell Douglas Corp’s machine tool, Loral and Hughes guidance system and supercomputers.

7. China used overt and covert means to subvert the ’96 presidential election – Bauer 5/1/98 memo.

8. China ’s military imports U.S. technology to upgrade its weaponry in an attempt “to displace U. S. military power in Asia ” – Rick Fischer, Heritage Foundation.

9. The exchange value of Chinese currency is wrongly fixed, resulting in very unfair trade.

10. Substantial Chinese military budget increase, mostly in offensive weapons, should speak for itself for its ulterior motives.  In addition, China spends 40-70 percent higher than official Chinese figures – Rand Corp.

11. Extensive Chinese spy network in the United States.  As many as 3,500 Chinese “front companies” are involved in espionage for China. 

As consumers, please examine the labels of your purchases.  Business and finance is important to any country.  Should you support a country by purchasing its goods and services when such country has no regard for the human rights principles held so dear to you, to your children and family?  Very often, the low price tag associated with “Made in China” was achieved on the blood and back of many religious prisoners in the labor camp. The communist Chinese government may not share your principle and value, but they must know that religious persecution will hurt them, at least financially.  Ladies and gentleman, I appeal to you, please do not buy anything made in China.

Cause for the Possible Canonization of Ignatius Cardinal Kung

I regret to inform you that we have received no news whatsoever from Bishop Lori about the cause for the possible canonization of Cardinal Kung.  As I wrote in the Christmas 2005 newsletter, please continue to join me in praying that Bishop Lori and our Church will recognize Cardinal Kung’s holiness in his decades of witness to the Roman Catholic Church, his unyielding  obedience and loyalty to our Popes, his accepting the responsibility as Bishop of Shanghai in a communist regime, and his refusing to join and lead the national Patriotic Church for which he was imprisoned for more than thirty years, many of them in isolation.

Special Project to Investigate Post-communist Martyrdoms in China

The Foundation has been financing a special project to investigate the martyrdoms that occurred after the communist takeover in China.  Several reports on these martyrdoms throughout various parts of China have already been written.  The most recently written report synopsized below is part of this continuing investigation.

The report describes the severe persecution that the Chinese government inflicted on a village in China from 1966 to 1969 during the “Cultural Revolution,” resulting in the martyrdom of some 13 people in the village.  Countless women were raped; many families were robbed and their property confiscated; and numerous Catholics were crucified.  Also there is a discussion of the persecution of the family members of the 13 martyrs but who survived that wave of persecution to this day.  One survivor still struggles with a smashed anklebone.  One had her ten fingers cut and was forced to eat excrement because she remained faithful to God.  Another survived after being dragged down four streets by a horse.  They are now senior team leaders, medical workers, and core members in the churches, earnest daily attendees of the church, walking with crutches and praying for people.  

The report presents the personal oral testimony — 40 years later — of surviving witnesses to the martyrdoms of the 13 in that village.  The testimonies describe in vivid detail the harsh and even animalistic torture of the 13 martyrs as well as the martyrs’ courage and fidelity to the very end.  For example, because he was reading the Bible instead of listening to anti-Catholic propaganda, the first martyr — aged 33 — was beaten with several hatchets and his genitals were beaten with wood sticks and ropes.  Another martyr, because of her evangelizing activity, was sentenced to two years imprisonment. After being released after serving the sentence, she was tortured and cruelly beaten to death at the age of 46. In the cases of two other martyrs, because they refused to renounce her faith in God, the persecutors poured kerosene on their heads and burned their bodies from the head.   A fifth martyr had devoted her life to teaching the Catholic faith. Because of this activity, the persecutors tortured her to death.  They penetrated her private parts with wood sticks to destroy her virginity.  A sixth martyr was involved in leading the praying of the rosary and attending Mass on Sundays.  Because of this activity, the persecutors tied his feet to a horse, undressed him, and then rode on the horse and back and forth on the main street.  He was badly mutilated. His hair and head skin fell off.

The report also presents the personal testimony of a witness to the savage persecution of a young woman whose parents had been previously martyred. The persecutors insisted that she say “Holy Mother isn’t a virgin!” to insult the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Because she refused, she was forced to go to the latrine to eat human excrement.  Because she continued to refuse to renounce her faith, the persecutors forced bamboo sticks beneath her finger nails.  She was also forced to move bricks with her hands pricked with bamboo sticks.  Later, she was forced to dig soil with her hands and suffer more.  After more than 10 days, she was given pliers to pull out the sticks by herself.  This woman sacrificed greatly with blood and tears for loving God.  Despite the grotesque and sadistic torture inflicted upon her, she survives to this day serving the Church at the age of 80.

The report describes a man who was appointed secretary of that village in 1980.  During his tenure, he took the opportunity to check the existing official records of the persecution during the “Cultural Revolution” and made a record of it in his own hand.  He recorded several important organizations and the accounts of some chief agents of the “Cultural Revolution” to serve as evidence of the specific details of the persecution of those who died for God. 

Finally, the report describes the rebuilding, from 1992 to 1997, of the church in that village and the revival of parish life.  The fifth part ends with a message from the revived parish to its persecutors.  The message extends a hand of reconciliation to its persecutors and expresses gratitude to them for both making martyrs of some of the parish members and for making all parish members even stronger in their faith.

This report has been submitted to appropriate Vatican personnel.  We hope that the Church will investigate it and, if proved true, award these martyrs the glory of sainthood.

Foundation Speaking Events

On June 11, I had the honor of delivering the commencement speech at the graduation exercises at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Still River, Massachusetts. In the speech, entitled The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, Ever To Happen, and Still Happening, I reflected on the new encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love. Essentially, I spoke about the heroism of Christian love, and exemplified that heroism first, of course, in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I then proceeded to speak about people such as Mother Teresa, Cardinal Kung, and a number of contemporary young men and women as those who continue to participate in the greatest love story that began with God who is Love, and that reached its climax with Jesus.  In this way, I exhorted the graduating class to embrace the same heroism in their future and thereby become a part of the “greatest love story ever told, ever to happen, and still happening.”

I will also be speaking at 10:30 am on August 19 sponsored by the Saint Benedict center at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. You are all welcome to attend.  Please call 203-329-9712 for details.  Thank you.

Annual Mass

October 1st is the Feast of the Chinese Martyrs and also is the National Day of People’s Republic of China. The persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in China began 57 years ago in 1949 when the Chinese communists took over China.  The Cardinal Kung Foundation designated October 1st or the Sunday closest to October 1st as the Annual Mass Sunday for the underground Roman Catholic Church in China. During the past 5 years, through the love and generosity of our donors, many Masses have been offered on this Annual Mass Sunday in parishes across America for the “persecuted, underground Roman Catholic Church in China.” The underground Church has been greatly blessed by the Holy Masses. In addition, each announcement of this Mass intention in local church bulletins increased parishes’ awareness of the current religious persecution in China.  Many people in America have no knowledge that the open churches in China are members of the communist government founded and sponsored Patriotic Association, and NOT in full communion with the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

If you have not already requested a Mass on  October 1st 2006 in your parish or in other parishes, I urge you to contact your parish office immediately to request a Holy Mass either on October 1st or on Saturday, September 30, or on any day closest to October 1st.  Your $10 offering to your parish for this Mass will show your solidarity with the underground Church and speak clearly an important message to your pastor and parishioners when the underground Church has no voice of its own.  If you feel that your pastor can benefit by an information package about the underground Church, or if you have permission to leave or distribute some information leaflet on China in your church, we will be glad to mail these to you.  Please give us at least 3 weeks of notice. 

Please let us know if you have arranged for this Mass to be offered in your parish or in other parishes.  If you are a priest and would like to offer a Mass for China on that day, we will greatly appreciate knowing this too.  We will let the underground Church know the number of Masses offered for them on 2006 Annual Mass Sunday.  The underground Church will be very encouraged by this open support.  May God bless you for your love and generosity to the underground Roman Catholic Church in China. 

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Joseph Kung
President

Please Remember The Cardinal Kung Foundation In Your Will.
Thank You.