Chinese Catholics welcome papal letter, but some doubt its effects

Published: 2007-07-26

HONG KONG (CNS) -- Catholics in mainland China say they welcome the recent letter from Pope Benedict XVI, but some say they worry it will not produce the desired effects. Bishop Paul Xie Tingzhe of Urumqi, in northwestern China's Xinjiang province, told the Asian church news agency UCA News the pope's June 30 letter could help promote reconciliation and "remove obstacles in the path of unity." Bishop Xie has not registered with the Chinese government, and the pope's letter called for unity between Catholic communities that have obeyed government orders to register with the State Administration for Religious Affairs and those that have refused to register. Another nonregistered prelate, retired Bishop Casmirus Wang Milu of Tianshui, said the pope has clearly shown a way for the church to develop in China. Bishop Wang said he would follow the pope's instructions by making every effort to work for reconciliation between the Catholic communities in his diocese and to dialogue with clergy belonging to the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which acts as a liaison between the government and registered communities.

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