United we stand: China's underground priests

Clerics accept Sino-Vatican deal on appointing bishops but warn of bleak future without religious freedom.

Bangkok:  Priests of the Chinese underground church understand Pope Francis' good intentions for it to be united with the government-sanctioned church, but say they are not optimistic as China has no true religious freedom.

Father John told ucanews.com that before and after the signing of the provisional Vatican-China agreement on appointing bishops, underground priests in his area held several private meetings to discuss the situation.

They unanimously decided that "if we are to become official, we will act together; in other words, if the pope wants us to be open, we will be open together; otherwise, we will together keep in the state of being underground."

After the signing of the agreement on Sept. 22, however, they decided not to join the state-sanctioned church for the time being.

"We are confused. We fully agree with Pope Francis that the agreement is for pastoral needs, but we do not understand why the pope accepts those eight illicit bishops. Does it mean there is no problem with the independent election and ordination of those bishops?" Father John asked.

After the agreement was signed, authorities sent personnel to parishes to lobby or force underground clerics to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) or face being defined as illegal, he said.

"We agree with the pope's intentions, and we do not oppose the agreement, but we do not dare to be open without seeing religious freedom," Father John said.

"Will the government give us greater freedom after we become official? Is there any benefit to underground church evangelization? Has the government changed?"

He said priests did not see any future and thought that "we should not go too fast" but should continue to observe.

Father John said the agreement could not make the China Church united but would increase the split.

Since the agreement, some priests think the Holy See has accepted the Chinese Communist Party's version of an independent church, so they would rather join the CCPA because the pope does not object to it anyway, he said.

"But there are faithful of the government-sanctioned church who regard underground priests who become open as being too close to the government," Father John said.

"With the authorities asking the church to raise the national flag and sing the national anthem, they feel the church is no longer like a church, so they choose to go underground."

Father John hopes that the Vatican will be transparent about any future actions and "think more about the underground church."

He expects the international community to pay more attention to the China Church and put pressure on the government.

Father Thomas, priest of an underground church in a big city, told ucanews.com that government officials had taken away underground priests and then spread fake news that they had transferred to the open church.

"Without seeing the priest holding a priest's card in his hand, we don't believe he has really joined the CCPA. Even if he has joined the association, we will persuade him to come back," he said.

Father Thomas said the government had tried to threaten him through his parents and his phone had been monitored.

"We fully understand the pressure priests can face because the government's brainwashing work is very horrible. While being detained, there will be 10 people talking to you. The less determined will turn to the government," he said.

Father Paul, another underground priest, told ucanews.com that authorities had seized his church and he is living in a Catholic's house.

He said 80 percent of clerics in his parish have transferred to the government-sanctioned church in the past few years.

On the provisional agreement, he said: "The content is confidential, indicating the church has secrets that it cannot let everyone know. However, because I could not oppose the pope, I choose to keep a low profile."

As to whether it should be made public, he believes that everyone is waiting for the pope's explicit provisions. "But at that time if my conscience cannot accept it, I will return to my hometown but still live a single life."

Source: UCAN

Pope Francis praises youths after Korean peace pilgrimage

About 100 youngsters visit demilitarized zone for Wind of Peace event hosted by Seoul Archdiocese.

Seoul:  Pope Francis has expressed deep gratitude to Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul for his work for peace on the Korean Peninsula and encouraged young pilgrims to become peace builders.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State, sent letters to Cardinal Yeom and to young pilgrims on Oct. 31 on behalf of the pontiff. Seoul Archdiocese released the letters on Nov. 26.

The letters were replies to 100 young pilgrims who wrote to Pope Francis expressing their desire to become workers for peace after joining the 2018 Wind of Peace pilgrimage along the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas in August. Cardinal Yeom delivered the letter to the pope.

In the letter to Cardinal Yeom, Cardinal Parolin wrote: "His Holiness has asked me to convey his deep gratitude for the devoted sentiments you expressed as he renews his prayer for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."

In the letter to young pilgrims, Archbishop Parra wrote: "Pope Francis was pleased to receive your letter, and he has asked me to thank you in his name. His Holiness hopes that the graces of the pilgrimage may inspire all people to cooperate in building a world founded on fraternal solidarity and enduring peace."

Seoul Archdiocese's Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People, organizer of the peace pilgrimage, conveyed the letter from the Vatican to all participants. It also promised to develop the pilgrimage to become a more meaningful and fruitful event for young people from all over the world to feel and learn about peace.

The Wind of Peace has been hosted by the archdiocese and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Unification since 2016.

Youths from various regional and cultural backgrounds make a pilgrimage to the demilitarized zone, a landmark of Korea's painful history.

Almost 100 youngsters from Laos, Mexico, Malta, the U.S., India, China, Pakistan and South Korea took part in this year's pilgrimage and experienced a wide range of peace programs.

Source: UCAN

Pastors arrested during bid to 'rescue' tribal students

They deny police charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Former legislator Saturnino Ocampo (right) waits to be booked at a police station in Mindanao on Nov. 29 with Meggie Nolasco (second from right), director of a tribal school, and Congresswoman France Castro. The three were among those accused of kidnapping and human trafficking after trying to rescue tribal children who were fleeing from a village that has been a target of military operations. (Photo by Jose Hernani)

Manila:  Philippine authorities have filed charges of kidnapping and human trafficking against 19 people, including four Protestant pastors, a congresswoman and a former legislator, for trying to rescue tribal children who were fleeing from a village that has been a target of military operations.

Among those accused of "transporting minors without parental permission" were pastors Edgar Ugal, Ryan Magpayo,and Jurie Jaime, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and Eller Ordeza of the United Methodist Church.

Charges were also filed on Nov. 30 against Congresswoman France Castro of the ACT Teachers Party and former Congress member Saturnino Ocampo, both of whom were part of a "national solidarity mission" that aimed to investigate alleged military harassment of a tribal school.

The accused, who were all booked at Davao Police Regional Office in the southern city of Davao, were arrested on Nov. 29 after allegedly transporting 14 minors from the town of Talaingod in Davao del Norte province.

Reports reaching ucanews.com in Manila said the solidarity mission was stopped at a roadblock by men believed to be members of a paramilitary group known as Alamara that has been linked to attacks on tribal communities in the province.

Jeffrey Lozano, a Redemptorist missionary who was with those arrested, said the solidarity mission "only acted to rescue" tribal students and teachers who were forced to flee after members of the paramilitary group tried to close a tribal school.

"We came to aid the children and teachers who walked for five hours in heavy rain because the military attacked their school and tried to lock it down," Lozano told ucanews.com.

Police reports indicated that the group on board five vehicles were transporting the children to Compostela Valley province "without authority to do so."

Police added that the "successful rescue of 14 minors" was a result of its "continuous effort to implement" the anti-trafficking in persons law.

The minors were later placed under the custody of the local social welfare department while awaiting to be claimed by their parents.

The United Church of Christ condemned the "illegal arrest and trumped-up cases" filed against the pastors and other individuals "who were answering an emergency situation."

"This is very alarming and a call to all Christian churches to act," said Michael Salem, program coordinator of the church in Mindanao.

He said the church leadership is already conducting consultations "to determine the proper legal actions that we should take."

Human rights group Karapatan called on the government to immediately release all those arrested and drop the "trumped-up charges" against them.

In a statement, the group accused the government of using its "seeming endless arsenal of dirty tricks" against rights defenders and poor communities.

Source: UCAN

Bishop Shao freed by Chinese authorities

Underground prelate and priest are released but repression continues to promote officially sanctioned church.

Father Lu Danhua (left) and Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin have both been released by the authorities. The photo shows Father Lu when he was ordained by Bishop Shao on Dec. 14, 2016. (Photo supplied)

Hong Kong:  An underground bishop and priest have been released by authorities in China's Zhejiang province.

Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou and Father Lu Danhua of Lishui were freed on Nov. 23 and 22 respectively.

Bishop Shao was taken away by authorities on Nov. 9 and detained for 14 days while Father Lu was taken away on Dec. 29 last year and detained for 11 months.

Father Lu, who was ordained by Bishop Shao in 2016, is the only priest in sparsely populated Lishui Diocese, which is adjacent to Wenzhou.

A source called Peter told ucanews.com that authorities did not specify the reason for taking away the bishop but just said "going out for a talk," while Father Lu was detained for illegally holding a Mass at Qingtian Catholic Church.

Peter said Father Lu was detained in a luxurious hotel only a five-minute walk away from his church. The hotel is used to isolate and review officials who violate rules and regulations of the Chinese Communist Party.

"When Father Lu was being detained, more than a dozen members of the Religious Affairs Bureau and the Public Security Bureau of Qingtian County took turns to look after him. Father Lu lived in a room and the guards watched outside," Peter said.

He said Qingtian County authorities took the priest away to "let the priest of the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association occupy Qingtian Catholic Church."

He said Father Lu was released because his brother was sick and needed his comfort.

A source called Thomas told ucanews.com that he believed that Bishop Shao was taken away because Wenzhou Religious Affairs Bureau had always wanted to charge the bishop, but there was no way to do so, so they had "kicked this hot potato" to the Yueqing bureau.

Peter said Yueqing officials had intimidated the bishop to see if his attitude "has been loosened."

Peter also pointed out that local officials recently went to parishes and asked the underground church to be "open" and join the government-approved sector.

"They said that the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement [on the appointment of bishops] implied that former popes had done something wrong, and the one now [Pope Francis] had withdrawn the punishment for eight illegal bishops," Peter said.

"However, the Holy See said that it was they who asked for forgiveness and the pope accepted them back to the church."

He said the provisional agreement had made them confused and he thought it could not improve the situation of the underground church in China.

Source: UCAN

'Women wall' in Kerala will polarize communities: Congress

The apex court on November 13 refused to stay the September verdict, three days before the two month long Sabarimala pilgrimage season began on November 16.

Thiruvananthapuram:  The Congress on Sunday condemned the 'women wall' protest from Kasargode to the Kerala capital announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for January 1, saying it it will only whip up communal passions.

Addressing the media, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said it was rather strange that Vijayan was doing what no Communist Chief Minister in the state had thought of.

"This 'women wall' will only help to polarize communities and compartmentalize people in the name of caste. What is even more strange is that this was decided at a meeting of representatives with dozens of Hindu social organisations where the Chief Secretary was also present. Vijayan should see that this is not a state-sponsored programme," he said.

Saturday's meeting was an attempt to garner support following recent protests by Hindu groups in Kerala over the entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple post a Supreme Court verdict.

Vijayan sent out invites to over 150 social groups, of which around 70 took part and it was decided to use the #hashtag that the purpose of the 'women wall' would be 'not to turn Kerala into a lunatic asylum'.

"Vijayan should release minutes of the meeting... Reports have surfaced that while Vijayan said all have pledged support for the state government on the stand taken by them on the Sabarimala issue, some leaders who took part later said they disagreed," added Chennithala.

The apex court on November 13 refused to stay the September verdict, three days before the two month long Sabarimala pilgrimage season began on November 16.

The Left Democratic Front government led by the CPI-M has been trying to implement the apex court's verdict even as the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and several Hindu groups are up in arms against it.

"The talk of renaissance is not by bringing ladies to Sabarimala as there is no ban on ladies. Instead, there is restriction, which is part of tradition and the rituals associated with the Sabarimala temple.

"The BJP and RSS are trying to create a terror situation in the temple town," added Chennithala.

Meanwhile, the Nair Service Society, which represents the Hindu Nair community and which did not attend Saturday's meeting, on Sunday said that the Vijayan government was trying to make political capital out of the Sabarimala issue.

IANS

India has to step up efforts to reduce child mortality rates: Venkaiah Naidu

He said India must move from disease treatment to health promotion paradigm.

Chennai:  Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the country has to step up efforts to reduce children's mortality and achieve the UN's Sustainable Developmental Goals.

Inaugurating Rainbow Children's Hospital here, Naidu listed prematurity, low birth weight, pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases as the major causes of child mortality in India.

According to the 2018 Pneumonia & diarrhoea Progress Report, released on November 12, in 2016 alone almost 261,000 Indian children died before their fifth birthday due to diarrhoea or pneumonia, both preventable diseases, he said.

In addition to central and state governments' efforts to improve the health parameters and reduce the mortality rates, Naidu said much more needs to be done to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing under-five mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

"We need participation and cooperation of both public and private sector and see that an effective healthcare model is implemented across the country," Naidu said.

The Vice President urged the private sector to set up healthcare facilities in rural areas as part of its corporate social responsibility and not just focus on urban areas.

He said India must move from disease treatment to health promotion paradigm.

IANS

Dibrugarh gets successor to its Bishop

Father Albert Hemrom served the diocese in various capacities and has been a visiting Professor at Oriens Theological College, Shillong (2006-2011).

Dibrugarh:  Pope Francis has appointed Father Albert Hemrom as Coadjutor Bishop of Dibrugarh on Dec. 2 to succeed its present Bishop Joseph Aind.

The 49-years old Bishop designate will be the youngest Bishop in the entire northeast. Currently, he is the Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dibrugarh.

The Bishop designate will serve as a Co-adjutor Bishop till the retirement of Bishop Joseph Aind in November 06, 2020 and thereafter takeover the administration and governance of the Diocese of Dibrugarh as its Bishop. He

will be consecrated as the new Bishop on March 3, 2019 at the Bishop’s House. About twenty Bishops from the country including sixteen Bishops from the northeast and the local Catholics from the region are expected to take part in the consecration ceremony, the diocesan officials said.

Salesian Bishop Aind is now 73. Church laws demand that bishops submit their resignation paper at the age of 75.

The Bishop designate was born in Konapathar in Dibrugarh 1969. He joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Dibrugarh, and then studied at Christ the King College, Shillong, and atOriens Theological College, Shillong.

He was ordained priest in 1999. He obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Peter’s Pontifical College, Bangalore (in 2003) and a Doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University (2014).

He served the diocese in various capacities and has been a visiting Professor at Oriens Theological College, Shillong (2006-2011). He was also Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal and Rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Dibrugarh.

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