Catholic church leaders from the diocese of Datong in China have urged the Vatican to help push against the persecution that they face and to not make compromises with the Chinese government.



According to AsiaNews, eight church leaders recently sent a letter to the Vatican declaring that they "cannot sit down silent without any concern, even more we cannot stand by with folded arms."



"What is worth of our concern is the freedom of religious faith since it is a fundamental human right, that cannot be violated, forbidden or taken away. Obviously, many statements and proposals of the Government, we must not necessarily agree upon and accept, some of them we even oppose," they wrote.



"But, it is not possible to take away our freedom and right because we have a different faith. As a community of believers, we are even more concerned with the freedom of speech, since it cannot be separated from freedom of religion: without one there cannot be the other!"



The church leaders continue: "We now receive your control. The cross of our church and even the whole church has been demolished. The freedom of the faithful to attend our meetings is opposed. The church is forced to accept the guide of the Chinese Government. All these things make us worried and dissatisfied."

