‘Foreign forces’ can’t control religion, Chinese official says amid Vatican talks

Religious matters in China cannot be controlled by foreigners, Beijing’s most senior official for religion wrote in a Communist Party journal, amid talks with the Vatican to resolve a dispute over the appointment of Catholic bishops.

Pope Francis had voiced optimism in June that ties between the Vatican and China were improving, as the two sides were in advanced talks to settle one of the biggest obstacles to resuming diplomatic ties that were cut almost 70 years ago.

Catholics in China are split between those in “underground” communities that recognise the pope and those belonging to a state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association where bishops are appointed by the government in collaboration with local church communities.

While restoring diplomatic relations were not part of the ongoing talks, full relations would give the church a legal framework to look after all of China’s estimated 12 million Catholics and move on to focus on Catholic growth in a country where Protestant churches are already growing fast.

The Vatican currently maintains full diplomatic ties with Taiwan, not Beijing, which views the self-ruled island as a wayward province.

Writing in the latest issue of the bi-monthly party theoretical journal Qiushi, or “Seeking Truth”, Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, said China had to remain in charge on religious matters.