SHIJIAZHUANG, China — China has resumed the systematic arrest of Catholic priests and seminarians whose meetings are not sponsored by the government-sanctioned “patriotic” Church, the Connecticut-based Cardinal Kung Foundation has reported.
A dozen underground priests and seminarians were attending a religious retreat Oct. 20 in the Hebei province. The government of China raided the retreat and arrested the participants, who are now being kept in a detention house in Gaocheng County. Among the arrested are Father Li Wenfeng, 31; Father Liu Heng, 29; Father Dou Shengxia, 37; and seminarians Chen Rongfu, 21; Han Jianlu, 24; and Zhang Chongyou, 23, the Kung Foundation said. Names of others arrested are unknown.
The Kung Foundation also reported that a Catholic church in Hebei was demolished by the Chinese government June 21, just two weeks after its construction was completed. This church was located in Liu Gou village and had about 150 parishioners, mostly new converts.
A priest of the government-approved church confirmed the demolition to UCA News, an Asian Church news agency based in Thailand. The priest, who asked not to be named, told UCA News on Oct. 28 that underground priests had asked government-approved personnel for their help before the demolition, and negotiations with government officials were held.
According to the priest, the church was built without proper legal papers and was not registered as a religious venue. He said that for these reasons and others, which he would not disclose, the church was finally torn down. He added that it was not yet in use when it was demolished.
The press release said the church was completed only two weeks before the demolition, and most of its 150 parishioners were new converts.
(From combined wire services)