Vatican deals with China are leaving Catholics around the world baffled

In what was an unprecedented move, the Vatican earlier this year asked Chinese underground bishops to step down. Apparently, Rome believes the atheist Chinese regime is better qualified to select its bishops than the Roman Catholic Church. And thus, it is conceding its authority to the Communist Party – a move that is likely to raise eyebrows among Catholics around the world (“Vatican-Beijing deal on bishops no cause for concern, Catholic Church tells Taiwan”, September 19).

As The Wall Street Journal points out, the Vatican’s concession is taking place in the midst of the party’s unremitting crackdown on Christianity. The repression of religious freedom has increased significantly since President Xi Jinping assumed office in 2012. Alas, the Vatican has fallen for Beijing’s sleight of hand – at its own peril.

The forced closure of Beijing’s Zion Church is further evidence of the Communist Party’s crackdown on Christianity. Wang Yu, a prominent human rights lawyer and a member of Zion Church, is quoted in The Washington Post as saying, “The pressure has always been there. It’s just that it hasn’t always been so violent or forceful.”