Vatican Might Renounce Taiwan Ties

THE STRAITS TIMES, Feb. 18 — Bad relations between the Vatican and the Chinese mainland government date back to the conquest of that country by Mao Zedong in 1948.

The communist government persecuted Catholics, setting up a schismatic “patriotic church” to corral believers into obedience to the state. The vast majority have refused to join it and make up a lively underground Church. In return the Holy See has always refused to recognize the communist government and retained ties to Taiwan, which still claims to be the legitimate ruler of all China.

This may change soon, according to the Catholic bishop of Hong Kong. Bishop Joseph Zen told The Straits Times that Rome might be willing to renounce its ties to Taiwan in return for renewed legal contacts with Catholics on the mainland.

“The Vatican has made it clear that it is ready for a compromise, ready to renounce diplomatic relations with Taiwan,” Bishop Zen said.

The chief obstacle is Rome's insistence on the right to appoint bishops in China, a right it possesses throughout the rest of the world.

The bishop said that “the bishops in Taiwan [would] understand” if the Vatican broke ties with their government. “We don't know if all the priests or the faithful understand.”

Religious Leaders Meet to Promote Peace

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE, Feb. 11 — The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue organized a symposium in Rome on Jan. 16-18 on “Spiritual Resources of the Religions for Peace” with 38 participants from 15 countries, representing most major world religions.

The Final Declaration was made public in early February. It said, in part: “[T]oo many people see and employ religion as a force of divisiveness and violence, rather than a force for unity and peace. … We hold that the scriptures of each religion teach the path to peace, but we acknowledge that our various sacred writings have often been and continue to be used to justify violence, war and exclusion of others. …

[W]e must all recognize the need for new, contextual studies and a deeper understanding of our various scriptures that clearly enunciate the message and value of peace for all humanity.”

Moscow Joins Rome in Plea to EU

INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC NEWS, Feb. 16 — The Russian Orthodox Church has joined the Holy See in asking the European Union to make an explicit recognition of the role of religion in its new constitution, reported Independent Catholic News.

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk wrote former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who now chairs the committee drafting the constitution, calling for “a reference to the Christian heritage of the European Union, as well as to other religious traditions and secular thoughts and ideas. … The proposed provisions of the constitution of Europe leave aside the tremendous layer of religious culture, which inspires minds and hearts. A Europe that renounces religion, and especially Christianity, as one of its fundamental life-giving forces cannot be the fatherland for many people who live here.”