'Priest pressured to join Beijing-backed church'

A report says a Catholic priest is being hounded by officials to join the official Communist Party-controlled church organisation. File photo: AP

A Chinese Catholic priest whose demotion was key to a now-stalled effort at reconciliation between China and the Vatican is being pressured to join the official Communist Party-controlled church organisation, a fellow priest and Catholic news source said.



Vincenzo Guo Xijin was one of two legitimate bishops who remain loyal to the pope who were asked last year by the Vatican to step aside.



That was part of a controversial agreement that also called for the Holy See to recognise seven bishops who had been appointed by Beijing without papal consent.



Local government and religious affairs department officials, along with representatives from the ruling Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, are visiting Guo regularly in an effort to persuade him to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Reverend Peng Zhekang, a priest in Guo’s diocese in the eastern province of Fujian, said.



“They are not coming to look for trouble,” Peng said of the visitors.



However, the Vatican-affiliated news agency AsiaNews said Guo was being “hounded by public security agents” to agree to join the patriotic association in return for government recognition of his religious status.



It said Guo is under the constant supervision of two guards, and officials and agents arrive throughout the day seeking to change his mind.



“For months, the Fujian authorities have been exerting pressure, blackmailing and threatening priests to push them to sign this accession in exchange for government recognition without which their ministry is forbidden,” AsiaNews said.



Peng, of Guo’s parish in the city of Mindong, said the local church was in the process of merging its official and underground sides, but only about two-thirds of clergy were on board with the move.



“Those still resisting the merger believe the government’s demand for a church independent from the Vatican has an impact on their beliefs,” Peng said.



Due to that, Guo “feels he has the responsibility to stay behind to take care of them,” Peng said.



Calls to Guo’s cellphone were answered by a message saying it was invalid, while calls to the local police and religious affairs department rang unanswered. (AP)