HOLY SEE WOULD WELCOME CONTINUED PRESIDENTIAL PUSH

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005194

SIPDIS

BEIJING ALSO PASS AMCONSUL CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2012
TAGS: PREL KIRF CH VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE WOULD WELCOME CONTINUED PRESIDENTIAL PUSH
FOR GREATER RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CHINA

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES D. BRENT HARDT FOR REASON 1.5(B) AND (
D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH CHINESE
PRESIDENT JIANG OCTOBER 24 IN CRAWFORD, THE HOLY SEE WOULD
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PAGE 02 VATICA 05194 231549Z
WELCOME A CONTINUED STRONG PRESIDENTIAL PUSH FOR RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM IN CHINA, REINFORCING THE MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT
DELIVERED IN HIS LAST MEETING WITH JIANG. HOLY SEE FOREIGN
MINISTER ARCHBISHOP JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TOLD CHARGE OCTOBER 22
THAT THE HOLY SEE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS
ON BEHALF OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE POSITION OF THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HIS LAST MEETING, AND BELIEVES A
REITERATION OF THE SAME POINTS AT THIS TIME WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOLY SEE IS NOT CONVINCED THAT THE
TIMING IS PROPITIOUS TO PRESS TOO HARD FOR SPECIFIC
CONCESSIONS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIOR TO THE COMMUNIST
PARTY CONGRESS, AS JIANG MAY BE LESS RECEPTIVE NOW THAN AFTER
THE CONGRESS. RATHER, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES IT WOULD BE
USEFUL FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO INSIST ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR
ALL FAITHS IN CHINA AND TO CONVEY THAT THE UNITED STATES
WOULD WELCOME NORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE HOLY
SEE. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) ACCORDING TO FM TAURAN AND VATICAN CHINA DESK OFFICER
ROTA-GRAZIOSI, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN CHINA WILL BENEFIT MOST THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL ADVANCEMENT
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CHINA. THE HOLY SEE WOULD WELCOME
THE PRESIDENT'S AFFIRMATION OF UNITED STATES' SUPPORT FOR
NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND CHINA AND
FOR CHINESE GOODWILL GESTURES TOWARD THE CHURCH. SUCH
GESTURES COULD INCLUDE PERMISSION FOR A SENIOR HOLY SEE
REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT A LOCAL CHINESE CHURCH OR AN EASING
OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE MANY BISHOPS AND PRIESTS BEING
HELD IN POLICE CUSTODY, HOUSE ARREST OR UNDER HEAVY
SURVEILLANCE. OVER THE LONGER TERM, THE HOLY SEE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE CHINESE AUTHORITIES PERMIT THE ORDINATION OF CHINESE
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PAGE 03 VATICA 05194 231549Z
BISHOPS AND PRIESTS BY THE POPE AS WELL AS THE PILGRIMAGES
AND OTHER VISITS OF CATHOLIC AUTHORITIES TO THE HOLY SEE.


3. (C) THE KEY TO SINO-VATICAN RELATIONS AT THIS JUNCTURE,
THEY BELIEVE, IS FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SPECIFIC LINK BETWEEN CATHOLICS
AND THE HOLY SEE. ACCORDING TO ROTA-GRAZIOZI, THE CHINESE
REMAIN GRIPPED WITH FEAR THAT CATHOLIC CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
WOULD THREATEN CHINESE CIVIL POWER. HE BELIEVED SUCH FEARS
COULD BE ALLAYED IF THE CHINESE BETTER UNDERSTOOD THAT
CATHOLIC FAITHFUL DO NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THE HOLY SEE'S
POSITIONS ON INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL ISSUES AND THAT PAPAL
AUTHORITY IS A SPIRITUAL, NOT POLITICAL, MATTER.

HARDT

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA05194 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL