They are imprisoned in the “guanzhi” mode, a mixture of restrictions on mobility and activities with political sessions consisting of communist indoctrination.
Fathers Yang Jianwei and Zhang Chunguang – Photo: AsiaNews
Newsroom (06/05/2022 2:00 PM, Gaudium Press) In 2022 China, in one diocese, there are ten priests arrested. Observers have classified the events as a true religious persecution. After all, China is a country bound by an agreement with the Holy See, albeit a secret one.
According to a report by Aid to the Church in Need, the Chinese Diocese of Baoding, formerly known as Baozhou and Quingyuan, is located in the central province of Hebei, 150 kilometres southwest of Beijing.
The arrested priests are Fr. Chen Hechao, Fr. Ji Fu Hou, Fr. Maligang, Fr. Yang Guanglin; Fr. Shang Mancang (arrested in April); Fr. Yang Jianwei e Fr. Zhang Chunguang (see photo); Fr. Zhang Zhenquan; Fr. Yin Shuangxi and Fr. Zhang Shouxin.
They are imprisoned in the “guanzhi” mode, a mixture of restrictions on mobility and activities with political sessions consisting of communist indoctrination.
The law allows the authorities this kind of ‘soft’ ‘guanzhi’ detention for up to three years without filing formal charges. Yet, there is nothing ‘mild’ about this mode of imprisonment and the faithful fear that the priests will turn up dead or seriously ill, as has happened in the past.
The Catholic community in Baoding belongs to the ‘underground’ Church, a name reserved to those who have not joined the Chinese Patriotic Association and therefore have not submitted to the yoke of the Communist Party of that country.
Among many, Most Rev. James Su Zhimin, bishop of Baoding, has been in the hands of the police for the past 25 years, after spending more than 40 years in forced labour under Mao Tse-Tung,
The congregation not only asks for prayers for the bishop but also for Fr. Liu Honggeng in prison for seven years.
This community, however, is divided as Msgr. Su Zhimin’s vicar, Francis An Shuxin, has decided to join the official Church.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
