China deal frees up worship

Vatican, Beijing agree to “dialogue” on faith

Pope Francis’ landmark agreement with the government of the Peoples Republic of China has the potential to open up the official atheistic country to religious freedom.

Critics suggest this is a deal with the devil. It’s possible that the “devil” in this arrangement is Pope Francis himself, from Chinese communists’ point of of view. The agreement will creak open the doors of human aspiration in China to allow wider permitted practice of religious worship.

Under the deal, Pope Francis agrees to accept into communion with Rome a handful of Chinese Catholic bishops who were appointed by the communist government of China. This has long been a point of contention between the church and the Chinese government.

And it appears that the pope agrees to take Chinese government views into into consideration when making future appointments.

The Pope put it this way: “It’s not (that government) names them. It is a dialogue. But the pope will appoint them. Let that be clear.”

According to the Catholic News Agency, Beijing established the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association in 1957 to regulate Catholics living in China, and Catholics in the country have been divided between members of the patriotic church and the “underground church.”

The agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic is meant to end the split.

In the end, this cannot help but be a boon for the Catholic church and for missionary Christianity.

However, it is imperative that this not be a deal that gives the Catholic church some kind of religious franchise that excludes other Christian denominations or any other religions.

It is imperative that Pope Francis not agree to stand by silently, protecting his turf, while religious groups like the Uighurs in western China and the Buddhist monks in Tibet are persecuted.

The government of China is playing a losing game of Whac-A-Mole trying to keep the normal human aspirations of its population in check.

Pope Francis has advanced the cause of religious liberty.