VATICAN AGENCY TO LAUNCH LENTEN MEDIA APPEAL FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000579

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE (D.MENNUTTI); DRL (T.FARR); EAP/CM
(M.KOEHLER)

BEIJING PASS AMCONSUL CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2012
TAGS: CH PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW VT VTCH VTCH
SUBJECT: VATICAN AGENCY TO LAUNCH LENTEN MEDIA APPEAL FOR
CHINESE CLERICS.


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00579 01 OF 03 061054Z
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON, REASONS 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) FIDES, A VATICAN NEWS AGENCY, IS SET TO LAUNCH A
LENTEN APPEAL NEXT WEEK FOR THE FREEDOM OF MISSING OR
DETAINED UNDERGROUND CATHOLIC CLERGY. FATHER BERNARDO
CERVELLERA, FIDES DIRECTOR AND CHINA SPECIALIST, PROVIDED
AMBASSADOR AN ADVANCE LIST OF MORE THAN 30 NAMES IN ORDER TO
FOREWARN THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO
CHINA. THE APPEAL WILL COMPRISE SOME 40 CLERGYMEN IN TOTAL,
WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL CLERIC LINKED TO A DAY OF LENT. (LENT
BEGINS FEBRUARY 13 AND LASTS 40 DAYS.) THE LIST (SEE PARA 5)
CONSISTS OF UNDERGROUND CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND PRIESTS WHO ARE
PERSECUTED BY PRC AUTHORITIES ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR REFUSAL TO
COLLABORATE WITH THE OFFICIAL "CATHOLIC PATRIOTIC
ASSOCIATION." THOUGH NOT SEEKING TO EMBARRASS THE PRESIDENT
DURING THE CHINA VISIT, FIDES WILL LIKELY CAPITALIZE ON MEDIA
ATTENTION IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IN CHINA.


2. (C) FATHER CERVELLERA ASSERTED THAT HIS VATICAN SUPERIORS
HAVE APPROVED THIS LENTEN PRAYER INITIATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE
UNDERGROUND CHURCH. HE CLAIMED THE PERSONAL ENDORSEMENT OF
CARDINAL SEPE, THE HEAD OF DE PROPAGANDE FIDE, A.K.A. THE
CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES, WHICH ALSO
OVERSEES THE FIDES NEWS SERVICE. (NOTE: DE PROPAGANDE FIDE
IS THE VATICAN MINISTRY CHARGED WITH THE SPREAD OF
CATHOLICISM AND THE WELFARE OF FRONTIER CHURCH COMMUNITIES,
SUCH AS IN CHINA.) CERVELLERA ADDED HE IS ANGLING FOR A
PAPAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE FIDES INITIATIVE, PERHAPS
DURING THE POPE'S WEEKLY STATEMENT AT THE SUNDAY ANGELUS
PRAYER. HOWEVER, NO PAPAL INTERVENTION IS PLANNED AT
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PAGE 03 VATICA 00579 01 OF 03 061054Z
PRESENT, HE ADMITTED.


3. (C) COMMENT: FATHER CERVELLERA IS SEEKING TO LINK THE
FIDES INITIATIVE TO THE FORTY DAYS OF LENT. HENCE, THE
EFFORT, STILL INCOMPLETE, TO MUSTER FORTY NAMES. HOWEVER,
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT, WHICH FALLS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT,
IS CLEARLY IN THE FOREGROUND OF CERVELLERA'S THINKING, EVERY
BIT AS MUCH AS THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR. CERVELLERA CONFIDED
TO THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE PERSONALLY GIVES GREAT CREDIT TO
THE INTERVENTION OF PRESIDENT BUSH FOR THE REDUCED SENTENCE
-- TWO YEARS RATHER THAN THE DEATH PENALTY -- METED OUT TO A
CHINESE CONVICTED OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING (IN BIBLES).
MOREOVER, HE NOTED GRATEFULLY THE HUMAN RIGHTS APPEAL BY
AMBASSADOR RANDT IN BEIJING ON BEHALF OF BISHOP SU, AS WELL
AS OTHER NON-CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LEADERS. CLEARLY, FATHER
CERVELLERA WOULD WELCOME A USG ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PLIGHT
OF UNDERGROUND CATHOLIC CLERGY.


4. (U) BACKGROUND: FATHER CERVELLERA IS A COMMITTED VATICAN
ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE UNDERGROUND CATHOLIC CHURCH. A
MISSIONARY PRIEST PREVIOUSLY POSTED TO HONG KONG, CERVELLERA
MAINTAINS EXTENSIVE CONTACTS WITHIN CHINA. UNDER HIS
DIRECTION, FIDES, A VATICAN INTERNET NEWS ORGANIZATION, HAS
BEEN PUSHING AN AGENDA OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PARTICULARLY IN
REGARD TO CHINA.

LIST FROM FIDES
--------------


5. (C) THE FIDES LIST FOLLOWS. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS ARE DRAWN
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PAGE 04 VATICA 00579 01 OF 03 061054Z
DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL FIDES TEXT. CHINESE FAMILY NAMES
RETAIN THE SPELLING IN THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN TEXT.

A) MISSING / ARRESTED BISHOPS:

MONSIGNOR JAMES SU ZHIMIN (BAODING, HEBI DIOCESE),70 YEARS
OLD. MISSING SINCE HIS 1996 ARREST.

MSGR. FRANCESCO AN SHUXIN (BAODING, HEBEI),52 YEARS OLD.
MISSING SINCE HIS 1997 ARREST.

MSGR. LI HONGYE (LUOYANG, HENAN),81 YEARS OLD. ARRESTED IN

2001.

MSGR. HAN DINGXIAN (YONGNIAM/HANDAM, HEBEI),64 YEARS OLD.
ARRESTED DECEMBER 1999. HAS SPENT MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS
TOTAL IN PRISON.

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2313

PAGE 01 VATICA 00579 02 OF 03 061055Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AIT-03 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00
EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OPIC-01 PRS-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00
SAS-00 /011W
-------------- 62BE08 061055Z /38
O 061032Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL SHANGHAI IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL SHENYANG IMMEDIATE
AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 000579

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE (D.MENNUTTI); DRL (T.FARR); EAP/CM
(M.KOEHLER)

BEIJING PASS AMCONSUL CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2012
TAGS: CH PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW VT VTCH VTCH
SUBJECT: VATICAN AGENCY TO LAUNCH LENTEN MEDIA APPEAL FOR
CHINESE CLERICS.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00579 02 OF 03 061055Z
MSGR. COSMA SHI ENXIANG (YIXIAN, HEBEI),81 YEARS OLD.
ARRESTED APRIL 13, 2001. HAS SPENT MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN
PRISON. PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED IN DECEMBER 1990 AND RELEASED IN

1993.


B. BISHOPS PERIODICALLY DETAINED AND FORBIDDEN OR BLOCKED
FROM THE EXERCISE OF THEIR MINISTRY.

MSGR. BARTHOLOMEW YU CENGTI (HANZHONG, SHAANXI),72 YEARS
OLD. UNDER HOUSE ARREST SINCE DECEMBER 2001. FORBIDDEN
CONTACT WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS.

MSGR. JOSEPH FAN ZHONGLIANG (SHANGHAI),83 YEARS OLD.

MSGR. HAN JINGTAO (JILIN),80 YEARS OLD.

MSGR. JULIUS JAI ZHIGUO (ZHENGDING, HEBEI),66 YEARS OLD.

MSGR. JOHN YANG SHUDAO (FUZHOU, FUJIAN),82 YEARS OLD.
ARCHBISHOP YANG SPENT CIRCA 30 YEARS IN PRISON. ARRESTED IN
1955 AFTER HIS REFUSAL TO JOIN THE PATRIOTIC CHURCH.
RELEASED IN 1981. ARRESTED AGAIN IN 1988, RELEASED THREE
YEARS LATER.

MSGR. THOMAS ZENG JINGMU (YUJIANG, JIANGXI),81 YEARS OLD.

MSGR. ZHANG WEIZHU (XINXIANG, HENAN),43 YEARS OLD. AN
ACTIVE PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF TWO RELIGIOUS ORDERS.

MSGR. XIE SHIGUANG (MINGDONG, FUJIAN),84 YEARS OLD.
DETAINED OCTOBER 1999, INTERROGATED, AND RELEASED. KEPT UNDER
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PAGE 03 VATICA 00579 02 OF 03 061055Z
TIGHT SURVEILLANCE.

MSGR. JAMES LIN XILI (WENZHOU, ZHEJIANG),82 YEARS OLD.
ARRESTED SEPTEMBER 1999, RELEASED JANUARY 2002. FIDES
REPORTS HIS ARREST WAS PART OF A VIOLENT LOCAL PATRIOTIC
ASSOCIATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST UNDERGROUND CATHOLICS.

C: MISSING / ARRESTED PRIESTS.

FIDES NOTE: MOSTLY FROM HEBI, WHERE THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH
IS STRONGLY CONCENTRATED:

FATHER CUI XINGANG (QINGYUAN).

FR. GUO YIBAO. ARRESTED DURING EASTER 2000. IMPRISONED IN
XUSHUI.

FR. LI JIANBO (MANCHENG),35 YEARS OLD. ARRESTED APRIL 19,
2001 IN XILINHAUTE (INNER MONGOLIA).

FR. LU GENYOU, ALSO SPELLED GENJUN. ARRESTED MARCH 31, 2001
BEFORE EASTER. SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS OF FORCED LABOR IN THE
PRISON OF GAOYANG.

FR. WANG ZHENHE (ANJIAZHUANG). ARRESTED APRIL 14, 1999.
IMPRISONED IN XUSHUI.

FR. YIN ZHENGJUN. ARRESTED JANUARY 27, 2001 IN BEIHEZHUANG
(QINGYUAN). SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS OF REEDUCATION AND FORCED
LABOR. IN BAODING PRISON.

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PAGE 04 VATICA 00579 02 OF 03 061055Z
FR. ZHANG CHUNGUANG. ARRESTED ON EVE OF PENTECOST, 2001. IN
XUSHUI PRISON, TOGETHER WITH FR. GUO YIBAO.

TWO INNER MONGOLIA PRIESTS ARRESTED IN 2002:

FR. WANG ZEYI, 31 YEARS OLD.
FR. ZHANG SULAI, 50 YEARS OLD.

FR. JIANG SUNIAN (ZHEJIANG). ARRESTED NOVEMBER 23. FIDES
REMARKS THAT FR. JIANG SUNIAN IS ONE OF SIX PRIESTS KEPT IN
CONFINEMENT BY THE WENZHOU POLICE BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL NAMES.

FR. JOHN GAO KEXIAN (YANTAI, SHANDONG),73 YEARS OLD.
CONFINED OCTOBER 1999.

FR. FENG YUNXIANG (FUJIAN). ARRESTED GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 13,

2001.

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2314

PAGE 01 VATICA 00579 03 OF 03 061055Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AIT-03 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00
EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OPIC-01 PRS-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00
SAS-00 /011W
-------------- 62BE0D 061055Z /38
O 061032Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL SHANGHAI IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL SHENYANG IMMEDIATE
AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 000579

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE (D.MENNUTTI); DRL (T.FARR); EAP/CM
(M.KOEHLER)

BEIJING PASS AMCONSUL CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2012
TAGS: CH PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW PHUM PINR TW VT VTCH VTCH
SUBJECT: VATICAN AGENCY TO LAUNCH LENTEN MEDIA APPEAL FOR
CHINESE CLERICS.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00579 03 OF 03 061055Z

D: PRIESTS RECENTLY RELEASED BUT LIMITED IN EXERCISE OF THEIR
MINISTRY

FR. HU TONGXIAN (HEBEI). ARRESTED AND BEATEN CHRISTMAS 1998.
SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS OF REEDUCATION AND FORCED LABOR IN
GAOYANG. RELEASED OCTOBER 14, 2001 BUT FORBIDDEN TO MINISTER
AS A PRIEST.

FR. JI ZENGWEI (BEIHEZHUANG, QINGYUAN, HEBEI). ARRESTED
DURING ASH WEDNESDAY CEREMONIES, 2000. RELEASED FEBRUARY 5,

2001. SPORADICALLY UNDER HOUSE ARREST.

FR. XIE GUOLIN (XUGUOZHUANG, GAOYANG, HEBEI). ARRESTED
NOVEMBER 4, 1999. ALTERNATED BETWEEN HOUSE ARREST AND JAIL.
RELEASED JANUARY 22, 2001 DUE TO ILLNESS.

FR. LIAO HAIQING (YUJIANG, JIANGXI),72 YEARS OLD. ARRESTED
JULY 10, 2001. PREVIOUSLY SPENT 17 YEARS IN PRISON IN THE 50S
AND THE 80S. SPORADICALLY RE-DETAINED AND RE-RELEASED.

THREE PRIESTS FROM SHAANXI ARRESTED NOVEMBER 2, 2001 AND
ENROLLED FOR REEDUCATION: FATHER DU BAOZANG, FR. ZAN
JAINZHOU, FR. ZAN SHENGRANG. RELEASED DECEMBER 7, 2001.
FORBIDDEN CONTACT WITH PARISHES AND THEIR BISHOP.
NICHOLSON

NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA00579 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL