HONG KONG (AP) – A leader of China’s state-controlled Catholic church said Friday he suspected the Vatican appointed an anti-communist Hong Kong bishop to be cardinal because the pope wanted to play a role in the Communist Party’s demise.
Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, noted that the Roman Catholic Church was active in toppling communism in Poland in 1989. Liu suggested that Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen, whose appointment to cardinal was announced last month, would be part of a similar strategy in China.
"Why would you appoint someone who doesn’t support communism as a cardinal?" Liu said in an interview in Beijing with Hong Kong Cable TV.
"Is it like Poland? Didn’t the church play a big role in Poland?" Liu asked.
Liu argued that socialism and Christianity were compatible.
"China’s socialist system comes from God. We should all protect it and obey it. This is what the Bible tells us to do," he said.
I wonder what translation that is in? Pehaps the RSV-CE Revised Standard Version – China Edition with foot notes by Moa Tse Tung. Though if only this guy’s paranoia was accurate and that this appointment would set into motion what the election of Pope John Paul II had on China.
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Liu argued that socialism and Christianity were compatible.
“China’s socialist system comes from God. We should all protect it and obey it. This is what the Bible tells us to do,” he said.
http://www.google.com/search?q=china+human+rights+abuses
Mao’s Little Red Good Book?
Why would the pontiff want to snuff out communism in China when his minions in California are so intent on establishing it here at home?
From Liu’s lips to God’s ear that communism should fall in China.
I hope that he does play a role in the downfall of Communism and I applaud the Pope for his decision. Liu’s comments are just the demon possessing China crying out not to be banished in the name of Christ Jesus.
From Liu’s lips to God’s ear that communism should fall in China.
You beat me to it. I was going to post exactly those same words. 🙂
Wouldn’t that be sweet? If Benedict could follow in JPII’s footsteps and topple a seemingly intractable communist regime? Man… I bet if we ask JPII’s intercession on this one he would come through in spades.
Communists are nearly always paranoid. So are dictators of all stripes. It’s inherent in the system: you spend your life compelling people to do what benefits you and not them, and it’s bound to occur to you sooner or later that somebody will start working against you.