Government agrees to return property to Catholic Church in China

Published: 2005-12-30

TAIYUAN, China (CNS) -- After a long church property dispute in Tianjin, in northern China, the local government has validated the church's claim to the property and agreed to return it. Tianjin's deputy mayor met five priests from Shanxi province Dec. 24 and told them his municipal government had verified that information the church presented to back its claim "basically matches" the government records, said Father Anthony Han Huide, procurator of Taiyuan Diocese, Dec. 29. Father Han told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, that the deputy mayor promised to settle the property problem as soon as possible and in accordance with the religious policies of the central government. The official also handed over the key of the house to the priests and told them they "could come back to visit and stay there," Father Han said. Father Han said the deputy mayor asked them to first return to Shanxi province and give the government time to prepare documents. Father Han said, however, that "no date and details were given."

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