http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5960
April 08, 2010
A Chinese bishop is under house arrest because he objected to concelebrating Mass with an excommunicated prelate.
Bishop Matthias Du Jiang of Bameng, in Mongolia, has been serving the underground Church for 6 years after his episcopal consecration-- which was done in secret, without approval from the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association. He was finally recognized by the government, with installation services today. But he was promptly placed under house arrest because he balked at officials' order to concelebrate the Eucharistic liturgy with Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin. Bishop Ma Yinglin was excommunicated in 2006 when he participated in an episcopal ordination ceremony without Vatican approval.
Bishop Du was compelled to go through with the ceremony, but announced to the congregation that he was concelebrating against his will. He was quickly restricted to his residence.
So many of our Catholic bookstores and apostolic associations now sell and distribute holy cards, statues and other items "Made in China." Why is this? Do we have no pride as Catholics? Do we not consider that every product we purchase from China merely legitimizes their atheistic regime, their state-sponsored brutality, their forced sterilization and contraception policies, their utter disregard for fundamental human and cultural freedoms?
ReplyDeleteI refuse to buy any Catholic holy card, statue or other item that is "Made in China" because it is a slap in the face of those Catholics in China who are terrorized and abused by the mighty power of this hegemonic state. I advise all Catholics to do likewise and stop pretending to honor God while paying tribute to Caesar.