This story angers me because this is absolutely evil. China is not interested in promoting religious freedom and this story that just broke about five hours ago supports this.
Here we have a priest in an underground Catholic church minding his own business and the Chinese officials break in and start beating the members and the priest who are partaking in their daily mass.
Catholic World News is reporting that the Catholics were beaten, and the home ransacked. Then the priest was taken to the local jail.
If this happened in America, there would be an outrage about this! We need to start shouting from the rooftops that this is not acceptable and it is unjust, unfair and evil in nature.
To read the Catholic World News report please click here.
I agree that religious freedom should be granted to any religion even a non Christian church like the Catholic church.
Posted by: Bill Scudder | October 17, 2006 at 09:43 AM
I agree that religious freedom should be granted to any religion even a non Christian church like the Catholic church.
Posted by: Bill Scudder | October 17, 2006 at 09:43 AM
Bryan, thank you for the reply. One problem is that the definition of "religious freedom" that you use does not exist in China. The Chinese government holds to different standards. Therefore, as you note, religious people, in particular Christians, are being poorly treated and in many cases imprisoned and tortured. However, they are treated this way for not following the law. While there might be a case for an international legal "right" of religious freedom, international law is not controlling on China..
I obviously misunderstood you in thinking you wanted everyone to share your beliefs. I am bothered, however, by the fact that you "assure" me that Jesus will come, and "God" will rule. Obviously, there is a significant percentage of the world's population that doesn't share your view, but holds to some other view. I think you are guilty of confusing belief with fact and are too ready to subject the world to your beliefs and standards..
I also feel one has a "responsibility to seek to live righteously and establish righteousness and justice," and "that orphans are tended to." I feel however, that "Chinese Christians" should be treated and judged by the standards of their country, not yours or mine. Imagine your feelings, for example, if your religious efforts were judged by Islamic law.
Posted by: Charles Steinmetz | August 08, 2005 at 06:58 PM
Charles, the problem is that they (chinese government) claim religious freedom, these are their words not mine (or the article), however these are not enforced yet instead people (religious people in particular christians) are being poorly treated and in many cases imprisoned and tortured. I believe that there is a humanitarian right to stand up for righteousness. I seek not universalism in a religious sense where we are one big happy christian family. That day will come, you can be assured of that much, it's called when Jesus comes again physically as God to rule. until then, i believe that we have a responsibility to seek to live righteously and establish righteousness and justice, be it making sure that orphans are tended to or chinese christians are treated with human dignity.
www.bryanstupar.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bryan | August 02, 2005 at 10:32 PM
Couldn't agree with you more. The idea that China has religious freedom is just a cover to the persecution that is still going on there.
Posted by: Amy | July 31, 2005 at 05:21 PM
If this is something "absolutely evil," I wonder just what is Stacy's definition of evil.
It is fairly obvious China is not interested in promoting religious freedom. So what? Stacy is terribly ethnocentric. Do we have the right to tell them they must promote religious freedom? That is Stacy's value, not theirs.
The "priest in an underground Catholic church minding his own business" was minding his own business by breaking the law.
Yes, if this happened in America, there probably would be an outrage about this. But China is not America. And America does not rule China.
Do we really need to start shouting from the rooftops that asking people to follow the law is "unjust, unfair and evil"?
And Bryan seems to want a one-world order - as long as he and his values rule.
Posted by: Charles | July 31, 2005 at 09:48 AM
you are absolutely right, more needs to be done to raise awareness to these evils, especially in the american church. Why is it that our current legislation and governing body is not more active in our country addressing this. I know the churches responsibility by in large is to be prayerful with regards to these matters. Yet, my bigger question stems from us humans on a more global community. like, haven't were learned the lessons from naziasm? what about stalin? what about mogadishu?.............will it be one day, what about china?
- www.bryanstupar.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bryan | July 31, 2005 at 07:55 AM