So all the speculation was approximately right - an agreement had been reached and it was to be signed by the end of September. The official announcements, of course, were markedly anti-climactic. Not just for saying nothing that had not already been speculated, but for hardly saying anything beyond the fact that there is now an agreement- called 'provisional' without explanation...
Submission: A phantom accord
between the Holy See and China
All that is known at the official level about the accord signed in Beijing today, September 22, by the Holy See and China is that
“it concerns the appointment of bishops,” is “provisory” and “provides for periodic evaluations of its implementation.”
Not one more word about its contents.
The accord was signed for the Holy See by the undersecretary for relations with states, Antoine Camilleri, and for China by the deputy foreign minister, Wang Chao.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, then added in a statement that
for the Holy See the accord “has a pastoral objective” and responds to the need for pastors “who are recognized by the successor of Peter and by the legitimate civil authorities of their country.”
What is not said is that the Chinese authorities will still be first in line in the selection of future pastors, with only a feeble right of veto granted to the pope on any candidates who may not be to his liking.
In this sense, the accord can rightly be defined as “historic,” because
it marks a sensational about-face in the journey that the Catholic Church has made over centuries of history to free itself from submission to political powers, particularly in the “investiture” of its pastors.
To begin with, Pope Francis put the accord into practice from the day it was signed,
exonerating from excommunication seven “official” bishops installed by the regime and until now never recognized by the Holy See, a couple of them with lovers and children.
Or better, not seven but eight, because Francis has released from excommunication another bishop “who passed away on January 4, 2017, and before dying had expressed the desire to be reconciled with the apostolic see.”
Moreover, one of these pardoned bishops, Guo Jincai, who is also secretary of the pseudo-episcopal conference subjugated to the regime, has been assigned the new diocese of Chengde, instituted "motu proprio" in 2010 by the Chinese authorities and also recognized by the Holy See.
Cardinal Zen on the China-Vatican agreement:
Saying nothing in many words
by Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiun
September 22, 2018
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Following reports about today’s signing of a provisional agreement between China and the Holy See on the nomination of bishops, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, Card Joseph Zen, sent the following statement to AsiaNews.
The long-awaited press release from the Holy See is a masterpiece of creativity in saying nothing in many words.
It says that the agreement is provisional, without saying how long it will be valid; it says that it provides periodic reviews without saying when the first deadline will be.
After all, any agreement can be considered provisional since one of the two parties can always ask for a change or even the cancellation of the agreement.
But the important thing is that if nobody asks to change or cancel the agreement, this, even if provisional, remains in place. The word "provisional" says nothing.
"The agreement is about the appointment of bishops". The Holy See has said that many times for a long time. So, what is the result of all this work? What is the answer to our long wait? Nothing is said! Is it secret?
The whole statement boils down to "There was the signing of an agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China on the appointment of Bishops". All the rest are meaningless words.
So, what is the message the Holy See intends to send to the faithful in China with this statement? "Have faith in us, accept what we have decided"(?)
And what will the government say to Catholics in China? "Obey us, the Holy See already agrees with us"(?)
Are we to accept and obey without knowing what must be accepted, to what one must obey? An obedience tamquam cadaver to quote Saint Ignatius?
We are particularly concerned to know if "the appointment of Bishops" also includes giving legitimacy to the seven. Does it include reappointing the bishops of the "underground" community presented this time by the government? What about those who won’t accept reappointment? Do we just thank the government for finally recognising them as bishops emeriti?
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 23/09/2018 01:46]