The statement references an letter, reprinted in the Chinese press, by an anonymous Chinese priest. Cardinal Zen’s conclusion:
If readers, inside and outside China, accept the suggestions
of the article, they will expect the Holy Father to emphasise with
friendship rather than truth and diplomatic relations rather than real
normalisation and real religious freedom.People with such expectations, I believe, will be disappointed when the letter does come out. They
may even side with those who may eventually take an irrational,
retaliatory action. Then, the Catholic Church in China would be on the
road of no return to becoming a national Church, independent from Rome.
The best elements of the Church would, then, become frustrated and
vanish. Then, the normalisation of the life of faith would become a far
away dream.We must believe that the only purpose of the
Holy Father in writing such a letter is the real normalisation of the
religious situation, so that the millions of Chinese Catholic faithful
can live their lives of faith happily and bear abundant fruit. Let us
be united in prayer and action behind this unique purpose for which we
must stand up. Let us join the majority, or the almost totality of the
faithful on mainland China, who are ready to accept, without
reservation, the directives contained in the Holy Father’s letter.We beseech the leaders of our nation cease allowing an
enslaved Church to bring shame on our country, and to let a free and
respected Church bring honour to our strong and respected country.
Please, give these people, who are your citizens, the happiness of
freedom to practice their faith. They will be willing to offer their
lives for the good of their country.
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