|
China Accused of Persecuting Roman Catholic Clergy VOA News 13 Feb 2002 17:57 UTC 
A Vatican-supported news agency has released a list of at least 50 Chinese Roman Catholic clergymen who it says are victims of government persecution. A statement by FIDES news agency, Wednesday, says clerics have been harassed, arrested, or have even disappeared for refusing to join China's government-sanctioned Catholic Church. The official Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association does not recognize Vatican authority.
The list includes the names of 13 bishops and 20 priests, as well as 20 unnamed clerics.
Wednesday's announcement follows earlier attempts by Beijing and the Vatican to warm bilateral relations. The Chinese Communist government cut ties with the Vatican in the 1950s.
Dissident Chinese Roman Catholics traditionally attend underground services, which are banned by the authorities.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
|