Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Chinese government, after promising improved relationship to Vatican, arrests seven priests

Our prayers are always needed for the suffering Church in China. Hidden behind many prison walls are dedicated and faithful religious and laity, who are being martyred for their faith in Christ and His Church.

One of the underground Roman Catholic Church's priests in China, Cardinal Kung, suffered a white martyrdom of imprisonment for many years. While in prison, he wrote this moving prayer on a small piece of rice paper entitled, "A Meditation On The Crucifixion of Jesus":

"Our Lord Jesus is on the Cross. His whole body is covered with wounds, His hands and feet are nailed to the Cross; His head is crowned with thorns; for His drink, only vinegar and bitter gall. Although He suffered so much, He knows that many will remain indifferent. This mental anguish is even more painful than His physical torment.

God suffered so much for me. Why am I not willing to give up some worldly pleasure and accept some suffering in this life? I know well that Jesus suffered in reparation for my sins and yet I still go against His will and commit sin. How can I reject His grace and increase His sorrow?"

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Although Cardinal Kung died in 2000 at the age of 98, his nephew, Joseph Kung, helps to carry on his uncle's work through "The Cardinal Kung Foundation". The Church in China in union with the Vatican, still suffers severely under Communist oppression...

Press Release – April 27, 2005

The Cardinal Kung Foundation
Contact: Joseph Kung
PO Box 8086
Stamford, CT
06905

Tel: 203-329-9712
Fax: 203-329-8415
E-Mail: jmkung@aol.com

Arrest of Seven Underground Roman Catholic Priests in China

Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A. — Seven priests belonging to the Diocese of Zhengding 正定, Heibei 河北 were arrested at 5:30 pm April 27 Bejing time in Wuqiu Village 武邱村 of Jinzhou city 晉州市. These seven priests had traveled from their parishes for a religious retreat conducted by Bishop Jia Zhiguo who had just been released from 24-hour surveillance during the period of approximately March 30 to April 25 when Pope John Paul II was dying and when the new Pope Benedict XVI was elected. The mass arrest of priests was made by the Security Bureau of Shijiszhuang 石家庄, officers of the religious bureau, and dozens of police riding in nine police cars. Bishop Jia was warned by the Public Security and religious bureaus not to initiate any religious activities. The seven priests were sent to the Security Bureau of their respective parishes as stated below.

The arrested priests are: (All ages are approximated) Fathers WANG Dingshan 王進山 (50), LI Qiang 李強 (31), and LIU Wenyuan 劉文元 (35) from Gaocheng 蒿城市. Father Zhang Qingcai 張慶才 (45) from Wuji 無極縣 County. Father LI Suchuan 李素川 (40) from Zhaoxian 趙縣. Father PEI Zhenping 裴正平 (43) from Luancheng. Father Yin Zhengsong 尹正松 (32) from Dingzhou.

Joseph Kung, the President of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said: "it defies logic. How could the Chinese government on one hand proclaim to Pope Benedict XVI and the world their willingness to improve the relationship between China and the Vatican, and on the other hand keep arresting the Pope's priests? It is quite obvious that the desire expressed by the Chinese government to improve its relationship with the Vatican is less than sincere."

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 12:13 PM