STAMFORD, Connecticut, Jul 22, 02 (CWNews.com) - Thirty-one Chinese Catholics, including 26 under 18 years old, were arrested by the police in Communist China last week, according to the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation.
The Catholics were arrested during a summer school vacation catechism class being held in a private home in Fujian province. In addition to the 26 students, Sister Chen Mei, 27, a Catholic nun, and four chaperones were also detained. The children and the chaperones were released the following day, while Chen Mei remains in jail.
The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in churches that, while openly loyal to the government association, secretly pledge allegiance to the Pope.
Joseph Kung, the president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said: «The Patriotic Association in the region organizes catechism classes for its own students openly and legally. The underground Roman Catholic Church is not allowed to do the same.» He added, «The government intimidates and harasses innocent young children to pressure them and their parents to leave the underground Catholic Church in order to join the Patriotic Association.»
He continued, «On numerous occasions, the Chinese government has assured foreign governments and their religious leaders that the Chinese constitution guarantees religious freedom to Chinese citizens. We urge these same governments and religious leaders to raise their voices of justice for Sister Chen Mei and hundreds of Roman Catholic bishops and clergy who are currently held in Chinese jails and detention camps.»
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22. juli 2002