For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China

The relationship of China with the greatest secular world power—the United States of America—and the most universal global spiritual power—the Catholic Church—is in a state of flux. President Trump and Pope Francis are major protagonists in this dramatic period. Although what is happening in China has an impact worldwide, it is hard for the non-specialist to grasp what is underway and its significance for the future. There are two Catholic communities in China: the "underground", or unofficial, Church and the official, government-controlled Patriotic Church. Cardinal Joseph Zen is one of the most knowledgeable and credible witnesses to what is happening in China, especially on the relationship between these two communities. He is a courageous defender of the underground Church yet has intimate knowledge of the official Church, in part because hea taught in several of its seminaries. It has been recognized—and Pope Francis himself has confirmed—that the historic 2007 letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Catholics in China remains the magna carta of the Church in that country. On the tenth anniversary of this letter, Cardinal Zen gave a series of eight lectures on its origin, drafting process, and final content, and these enlightening talks are presented in this book. In these lectures, Cardinal Zen explains in detail what he considers is now threatening the fundamental principles of the letter—and therefore 'his people'. As the title indicates, for the love of his people, he will not remain silent. "The relationship of China with the greatest secular world power--the United States of America--and the most universal global spiritual power--the Catholic Church--is in a state of flux. President Trump and Pope Francis are major protagonists in this dramatic period. Although what is happening in China has an impact worldwide, it is hard for the non-specialist to grasp what is underway and its significance for the future. There are two Catholic communities in China: the "underground", or unofficial, Church and the official, government-controlled Patriotic Church. Cardinal Joseph Zen is one of the most knowledgeable and credible witnesses to what is happening in China, especially on the relationship between these two communities. He is a courageous defender of the underground Church yet has intimate knowledge of the official Church, in part because he taught in several of its seminaries. It has been recognized--and Pope Francis himself has confirmed--that the historic 2007 letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Catholics in China remains the magna carta of the Church in that country. On the tenth anniversary of this letter, Cardinal Zen gave a series of eight lectures on its origin, drafting process, and final content, and these enlightening talks are presented in this book. In these lectures, Cardinal Zen explains in detail what he considers is now threatening the fundamental principles of the letter--and therefore 'his people'. As the title indicates, for the love of his people, he will not remain silent"-- Provided by publisher The Relationship Of China With The Greatest Secular World Power--the United States Of America--and The Most Universal Global Spiritual Power--the Catholic Church--is In A State Of Flux. President Trump And Pope Francis Are Major Protagonists In This Dramatic Period. Although What Is Happening In China Has An Impact Worldwide, It Is Hard For The Non-specialist To Grasp What Is Underway And Its Significance For The Future. There Are Two Catholic Communities In China: The Underground, Or Unofficial, Church And The Official, Government-controlled Patriotic Church. Cardinal Joseph Zen Is One Of The Most Knowledgeable And Credible Witnesses To What Is Happening In China, Especially On The Relationship Between These Two Communities. He Is A Courageous Defender Of The Underground Church Yet Has Intimate Knowledge Of The Official Church, In Part Because He Taught In Several Of Its Seminaries. It Has Been Recognized--and Pope Francis Himself Has Confirmed--that The Historic 2007 Letter Of Pope Benedict Xvi To Catholics In China Remains The Magna Carta Of The Church In That Country. On The Tenth Anniversary Of This Letter, Cardinal Zen Gave A Series Of Eight Lectures On Its Origin, Drafting Process, And Final Content, And These Enlightening Talks Are Presented In This Book. In These Lectures, Cardinal Zen Explains In Detail What He Considers Is Now Threatening The Fundamental Principles Of The Letter--and Therefore 'his People'. As The Title Indicates, For The Love Of His People, He Will Not Remain Silent.--amazon. Introduction / by Aurelio Porfiri -- Events before and after the illegitimate ordination attempt and canonization protest in 2000 -- Events shortly before and after the letter -- Draft, suggestions, and final text, and corrections to the Chinese translation -- Commission for the church in China : a "compendium" and an "aid"--Content of the letter : Catholic ecclesiology -- Content of the letter : situation of the church in China -- Content of the letter : relationship between church and state -- What must we do? Go back to Pope Benedict's letter Introduction Events Before anf After the Illegitimate Ordination Attempt and Canonization Protest in 2000 Events Shortly Before and After the Letter Draft, Suggestions, and Final Text, and the Corrections to the Chinese Translation Commission for the Church in China: A "Compendium" and an "Aid" Content of the Letter: Catholic Ecclesiology Content of the Letter: Situation of the Church in China Content of the Letter: Relationship Between Church and State What must We Do? Go Back to Pope Benedict's Letter