Communists Seize Faithful Chinese Bishop

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BEIJING (ChurchMilitant.com) - Recent signs indicate religious freedoms are unraveling in China as reports that Bp. Guo Xijin of Mindong, a prelate of the underground (faithfully Catholic) Church, has been arrested.

Late Monday night, Communist officials descended on the diocesan chancery and hauled the bishop and diocesan Chancellor Fr. Xu Wenmin away.

Reports suggest Guo was arrested for refusing to concelebrate Easter Mass with a bishop of the government-backed "Catholic" Church, Zhan Silu.

Bishop Guo's arrest comes as the Communist Party is tightening its grip over religion in China.

Last week, Beijing dissolved its State Administration for Religious Affairs bureau and transferred responsibility for religious affairs to the Communist Party's much-feared United Front Work Department (UFWD).

According to UCA News, operating through the UFWD, the party "now has day-to-day oversight and direct control over the state-run organizations of all five official religions including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Chinese Bishops' Conference. It exercises control over religious appointments, the selection of clergy and the interpretation of religious doctrine."

The Communist power grab followed the promotion of Communist leader Xia Baolong, who in 2013 spearheaded a wave of Cross removals in Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai.

After being appointed as Zhejiang provincial party committee secretary in 2013, Xia tore down 1,700 Crosses from Catholic and Protestant churches and oversaw a wave of church demolitions.

Xia was elected vice chairman and secretary general of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at its March 14 session in Beijing.

Regime opponent Sang Pu told UCA News last week that Xia's promotion indicates that the Communist oppression of Christianity will continue.

"The central government has never changed its entire policy, its hatred of religions and its mentality to eliminate religions," he said.

As these sweeping power shifts were unfolding, a schismatic prelate issued an ominous warning to faithful Chinese Catholics: in future, both church and state would demand loyalty to Beijing over Rome.

Bishop Fang Jen-Ping of China's counterfeit, Communist-controlled church — the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) — announced that the first duty of Chinese Catholics is toward their government, not the Faith.

His comments confirmed fears that a Vatican bid to recognize the government church will destroy Catholicism in China.

The Catholic Church in China has operated underground since the Communists seized power in 1949. Perceiving the Church as a threat to its power, Beijing established the CCPA to try to subvert Catholic allegiance to Rome.

But now, the Holy See is trying to unify the Communist-backed Church with the underground Church by recognizing seven CCPA bishops.

China's 10 million faithful Catholics, who risk much for their fidelity to Rome, are confused and disillusioned by the Vatican initiative.

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