Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday that the extension of a formal agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China should aim to promote the human rights and immediate freedom of “enforced disappeared Catholic bishops” in China. said. The interim agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China on the appointment of bishops was agreed to be extended for four years from October 22, 2024, making it the third renewal.
HRW named several missing Catholic bishops. HRW Deputy China Director Maya Wang commented, “Securing the bishop’s release should be a top priority for the Vatican in its relations with the Chinese government,” highlighting the importance of ensuring and protecting religious freedom in China. pointed out. Mr. Wang says:
Now is the time for Pope Francis to stand up for religious freedom in China. His leadership for religious freedom is desperately needed to counter the Chinese government’s increasing persecution of all religious believers in the country.
The Hudson Institute commented last week on the agreement and the missing bishops:
At least 10 Chinese Catholic bishops (all recognized by the Vatican) have disappeared or been forced from their bishoprics and are currently in indefinite detention or subject to open-ended investigations by security police (…) The one who has suffered the longest is Bishop James Su Jiming of Baoding. Continuous secret detention: 27 years since leading the procession to Mary’s shrine.
According to HRW, the Chinese government violated the agreement through the unilateral appointment of bishops in 2022 and 2023, forcing Catholics to “worship in official churches under the guidance of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.” It is said that he applied “pressure” and “persecuted” him. Catholics who refuse to attend these churches and attend “underground house churches” instead.
China has adopted a Sinicization policy under the Xi Jinping administration, which ensures that religious activities are “in line with traditional Chinese culture.” China is officially atheist, and this Sinicization has influenced “foreign” religions, including Catholicism. China has an official church registered with a “supervisory government agency.”
HRW notes that this sinicization led to the demolition of “hundreds of church buildings and the crosses on them.” The report said authorities “prevented believers from gathering in informal churches, restricted access to Bibles, confiscated religious materials not approved by the government, and banned Bibles and religious apps.” That’s what it means.
Chinese authorities have faced repeated criticism in the past for their crackdown on the Uyghur Muslim community in Xinjiang, even being accused of genocide, and similar sinicization attempts come as concerns over human rights grow. This has also been done for other communities.
