Analysis: China-Vatican ties under spotlight

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China’s relationship with the Vatican, which has witnessed an upward swing in the recent past since the severance of diplomatic ties in 1951, is back in the spotlight amid new exchanges between both the sides and after Beijing earlier this week published a white paper titled “China’s Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief”.

Meanwhile, reports have appeared in the international media suggesting online sale of Bible has been banned in China, but similar allegations ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 were dismissed by China as “sheer rumors”.

The white paper released by China’s State Council Information Office on Tuesday asserted that relations between religion and other sectors are properly handled in the country, enabling active and healthy religious relations to take shape, according to a report by China’s Xinhua news agency.

A screenshot of the official webpage of China's State Council Information Office which displays the white paper titled "China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief", released on Tuesday.

According to the document “relations between the Communist Party of China and the government and religious groups, between society and religion, among different religions within the country, between religions of China and foreign countries, and between religious believers and non-believers are properly handled in China.”

Offering demographic figures, the white paper revealed that China has nearly 200 million religious believers and more than 380,000 clerical personnel, with Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism named as the major religions being practiced in the country.

The document also affirmed that religious conflict and confrontation have rarely been seen in China over the past 2,000 years. The state and the society have maintained an open mind towards diverse religions and folk beliefs, and respect both freedom of religious belief and diversity of folk beliefs, it said.

Beijing pushes for 'constructive dialogue'

The white paper was released just weeks after a delegation of Chinese scholars attended an anti-organ trafficking conference last month in the Vatican, the seat of Roman Catholicism, where a senior official praised Beijing’s record on organ harvesting. It was the second time China was invited by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) to a meeting in the Vatican.

The head of PAS Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo was later quoted in the media as saying that the Chinese government has “accomplished the reform of the organ donation system.”

“Right now, those who are best implementing the social doctrine of Church are the Chinese,” he said.

Wang Yang (right), the then vice premier, during his meeting with members of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops' Conference of Catholic Churches in Beijing, on February 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

Bishop Sorondo’s remarks are being seen as Vatican’s effort to support a possible agreement with Beijing on the selection of bishops in China, an issue that has been at the center of the differences that saw the ties broken up 67 years ago.

“The major stumbling block in China-Vatican ties is the question of which side has ultimate authority over the appointment of bishops: the Chinese government or the Holy See? Since 2014, talks over the issue have been underway, yet no major breakthrough has been achieved so far,” China’s English-language newspaper Global Times said in an opinion piece, published on January 31 this year.

This is the backdrop under which the China-Vatican negotiations are currently progressing.

On Tuesday, Xiao Hong, former spokesperson of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, confirmed that both sides have maintained contact, according to a Xinhua report.

“China is willing to push forward constructive dialogue and improve its relationship with the Vatican. We have actively engaged in profound discussions about certain issues," Xiao said at a press conference, adding: “China has always been sincere in wanting to improve relations with the Vatican and has continued to make efforts.”

Chen Zongrong, former deputy head of the administration, added at the same conference that the two sides have smooth and effective communication channels, through which issues can be discussed. "We also hope the Vatican will move in the same direction toward China," he said.

The negotiations between the Vatican and the Chinese government represent the most important diplomatic effort by the Holy See in decades and it is no surprise they are encountering significant opposition in the Western hemisphere, Massimo Faggioli, author and professor of historical theology at US-based Villanova University wrote in an opinion piece for the Global Times on February 21.

In an earlier January 31 opinion piece, the Global Times acknowledged that both China and the Vatican realize that a full reconciliation would need time. “China's governance of religion has grown increasingly mature and its handling of Catholic affairs fits the interests of believers. The two sides should also keep in mind that international forces may try to sabotage the negotiating process by spreading rumors that are harmful to Sino-Vatican ties,” it warned.

Ban on online selling of Bible not confirmed

Amid this growing exchange of dialogue between China and Vatican, a report by The New York Times on Thursday claimed that Beijing has banned online retailers from selling the Bible.

China has printed over 160 million copies of the Bible in more than 100 different languages for over 100 countries and regions, including 80 million copies printed in the Chinese language, 11 ethnic minority languages and braille for churches in China

“Internet searches for the Bible came up empty on leading online Chinese retailers, such as JD.com, Taobao, and Amazon, although some retailers offered analyses of the Bible or illustrated storybooks,” claimed the NYT report, which was also picked up by BBC, CNN, ABC, and other international news outlets.

The Chinese government or the retailers haven’t responded to the unconfirmed media reports yet due to the ongoing long holiday weekend in China.

However Xinhua news agency had earlier on Tuesday cited the State Council Information Office white paper saying “China has printed over 160 million copies of the Bible in more than 100 different languages for over 100 countries and regions, including 80 million copies printed in the Chinese language, 11 ethnic minority languages and braille for churches in China.”

Stating that the religious education system in China has further improved, the white paper elucidated that religious texts and literature are published as prescribed by the law.

“The printing, publication and circulation of religious text, in different languages and editions, and printed works, audio-visual products and e-books that record, explain and/or annotate religious doctrines and canons, have met the diverse demands of citizens with religious beliefs from the various ethnic groups,” the document said as reported by Xinhua.

As of September 2017, there were 91 religious schools in China whose establishment was approved by the State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA), including 41 Buddhist, 10 Taoist, 10 Islamic, 9 Catholic and 21 Protestant schools, it said.

There are six national level religious colleges, namely, the Buddhist Academy of China, High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, Chinese Taoist College, China Islamic Institute, National Seminary of the Catholic Church in China, and Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, the document noted.

It is noteworthy that reports of banning Bible at the Olympics village in Beijing had earlier emerged a year ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, which were summarily dismissed by the authorities as “sheer rumors”.

A screenshot of China's official response to the reports of banning Bible at the Olympics village in Beijing in 2007, posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy to the US.

"The Chinese government has never ever issued such a rule, nor any such statement," China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman at the time, Liu Jianchao, told the media. "China's religious affairs authorities and the Beijing Olympic organizing committee have not - and could not - issue a rule banning the Bible in the Olympic village."

“China has always respected and protected the religious freedom of foreigners living in China in line with laws and regulations,” he said.

“According to the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens Within the Territory of the People's Republic of China, foreigners are allowed to bring in religious publications, audio-video materials or other objects for personal use,” Liu said.

"We are suspicious of the ultimate motivations of those who spread such rumors. They should be responsible, and not do things that are not beneficial for themselves and undermine mutual understanding between China and the world," he added.

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