Chinese Patriotic Bishop Speaks Againsy Dalai Lama In Millennium Summit - Leader of Delegation Faithful to Communist Regime
NEW YORK, AUGUST 31 (ZENIT.org).- During the millennium summit of religious leaders, which ends today in New York, the Chinese Communist government used Patriotic Catholic Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan of Beijing, who does not recognize Papal authority, to launch bitter attacks against the Dalai Lama.
Although he did not mention the name of the Tibetan Buddhist leader directly, Bishop Fu Tieshan, who was in New York as head of the Chinese delegation, said that "some people want to trample on the sovereignty of other countries under the pretext of protecting religious human rights."
Through a press campaign that levelled harsh criticisms against the Dalai Lama's presence at the Millennium Summit, the Chinese regime had prepared public opinion in the country before the Patriotic Bishop's address in New York.
According to the "China Daily" newspaper, the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile since he fled from Tibet in 1959, "is not a peacemaker but an agitator"; hence, it would be "absolutely inappropriate that he be invited to, or that his presence be permitted at, the Millennium Summit."
The newspaper also published statements of Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan, who said that the Dalai Lama was involved in "secessionist" activities in Tibet, where there have been "revolts," making his presence in the Millennium Summit inappropriate.
Chinese Catholics have criticized Bishop Fu Tieshan in an unprecedented, striking way. On August 6, the Bishop ordained 4 priests (3 from the Chinese capital and one from Nanjing) (Cf. ZENIT ZE00081001). Despite the fact that 14 priests were invited to concelebrate for the occasion, they all refused to participate in the ceremony. As soon as the procession of candidates for ordination entered the Cathedral, led by Bishop Fu Tieshan, part of the congregation left the Church. However, the show of opposition did not end there. Candidates for the priesthood themselves requested that the ordination not be held in Natang, the "official" Cathedral of Beijing, See of Bishop Fu Tieshan) but in Beitang, the Catholic Cathedral prior to the advent of Communism.
According to sources of the Vatican agency "Fides," "priests and faithful of the Catholic Church in Beijing are showing ever more clearly their unease with Patriotic Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan" who, according to these sources "is in a very unclear position of communion with the Holy See."
On February 6 of this year, Bishop Fu took part in the illegal ordination of 5 Bishops. In an official statement published on June 24, the occasion of yet another illegal episcopal ordination, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that "an episcopal ordination conferred without the apostolic mandate represents a grievous wound to ecclesial communion and grave violation of canonical discipline."
Despite the fact that the U.N. did not invite the Dalai Lama, the assembly in the New York headquarters heard a message from the Buddhist leader, read by his representative in the Millennium Summit for World Peace.
"The world's religions can contribute to world peace, if there is peace and growing harmony between different faiths," the Dalai Lama said. "It is also my belief that, whereas the 20th century has been a century of war and untold suffering, the 21st century should be one of peace and dialogue."
"There can be no peace as long as there is grinding poverty, social injustice, inequality, oppression, environmental degradation, and as long as the weak and small continue to be trodden by the mighty and the powerful. The world's spiritual and religious leaders need to address these real and pressing issues," the Dalai Lama said in his message to the Millennium Summit. ZE00083101
ZEN - Zenith