(C) VATICAN PESSIMISTIC ON CHINA RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 000061 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/24/2029 TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF PHUM CH TW VT SUBJECT: (C) VATICAN PESSIMISTIC ON CHINA RELATIONS REF: CARTIN-NOYES EMAIL, APRIL 3, 2009 VATICAN 00000061 001.2 OF 003 CLASSIFIED BY: Rafael Foley, A/DCM. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Vatican's point person for relations with China sees no change in the PRC's hard line towards the Catholic Church. Chinese Catholics loyal to the Pope risk detention, while clergy in the government-approved Patriotic Association are "treated like children" and strictly controlled. The Vatican has no news on Bishop Jia, who was arrested before Easter, and appreciates the U.S. and others asking the PRC about his fate. With no incentives for Chinese authorities to loosen control on the Church, the Vatican does not foresee PRC-Holy See diplomatic relations any time soon. More important for the Holy See than exchanging Ambassadors, however, is space for the Church to operate free from government interference. The Vatican's priorities therefore are to maintain religious unity between the patriotic and underground communities in China, properly train clergy, and patiently wait for a new generation of Chinese leaders who may appreciate how the Church can contribute to China's progress. In the meantime, the stand-off between the PRC and the Vatican will continue, with new battles of wills on the horizon. End summary. No immediate changes expected -------------- ¶2. (C) Monsignor Gianfranco Rota told Charge d'Affaires and ADCM on April 22 that, having covered China at the Holy See's Secretariat of State for nineteen years, he was not optimistic current PRC authorities would relinquish their power over religious groups. Even though Hu Jintao appears to be more open than Jiang Zemin, he does not seem to be as influential - and so not able to push through a rapprochement with the Church. Moreover, Chinese authorities have no practical reasons to relinquish control they exert over the Church. There is no serious internal or external pressure on them to do so, and corruption favors the status quo. Rota added that in China, for example, the organizer of any event - including religious gatherings -- can charge 10% of its total costs as a fee. No news about Bishop Jia -------------- ¶3. (C) The Vatican has no news about bishop Jia, although it had received advance word from the underground church that Chinese authorities would take him away, several days before his arrest on March 30th. It is not unusual for Chinese authorities to arrest prominent bishops and priests before Christmas and Easter, Rota said, to prevent them from presiding over large celebrations. They are generally released a few weeks later. Occasionally, however, clergymen have disappeared following their arrests. Rota added the Vatican had asked the PRC about two other bishops missing for more than ten years and the government has denied knowing where they are. CDA advised that the U.S. Embassy had raised Jia's case with Chinese authorities (ref),and Rota expressed his thanks. Two Communities, One Church -------------- ¶4. (C) Rota emphasized there is only one Catholic Church in China, even if there are two communities. His explanation is consistent with the Pope's 2007 "Open Letter to Chinese Catholics" (for the full letter, see www.vatican.va). While relations between underground and Patriotic Association clergymen and communities were often difficult, Rota said, they had improved since the Pope's letter. Bishops loyal to the Pope had scored a victory last December, when they resisted pressure to celebrate mass jointly with "illegitimate" bishops -- those ordained without the Vatican's approval -- during the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Patriotic Association. ¶5. (C) Rota was very critical of the way authorities treat government-approved clergy. Their movements are tightly controlled, and they have to ask for permission for everything. The clergy in the Patriotic Association can not minister to their congregations freely, and are often ordered to attend public (propaganda) events on very short notice. Ironically, while underground priests risk detention, they are able to conduct their pastoral work independently. Theological and dogmatic formation lacking -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Vatican believes spreading Catholic moral values can contribute to China's progress by helping to rein in corruption and showing that materialism alone can not solve China's problems. To do so, it needs space to operate independently and better train its own ranks, patriotic or underground. VATICAN 00000061 002.2 OF 003 ¶7. (C) Since the Cultural Revolution, Rota said, it has been very difficult to train clergy properly in China. Although there are seminaries, it is hard to bring qualified teachers and the curriculum is influenced greatly by the Chinese Government. The latter, for example, insists that the seminaries focus on "democratic" decision making at all times - something that is not always appropriate in ecclesiastical matters. The poor theological and dogmatic formation at Chinese seminaries makes its graduates far less able to resist the pull of power, money and other "worldly temptations" in modern Chinese society. The Church is seeing more and more priests abandoning or betraying their vocations as a result. ¶8. (U) Priestly formation was a main focus of the March 30-April 2 periodic meeting in Rome of the Vatican's Commission on the Catholic Church in China. A Commission public statement also expressed "profound sadness" over the arrest of Bishop Jia and for the situation of other bishops and priests who are deprived of their freedom. ¶9. (C) Rota also complained about the authorities' "brainwashing" of Patriotic Association clergy. There is an emphasis on "a democratic" Church, but Rota said none of the association members would ever disagree with the government. Elections -- by acclamation -- for the government-approved Chinese Conference of Catholic bishops were a farce. The conference exists in name only and does not meet regularly to conduct business. Its secretary makes and imposes decisions on the rest of the bishops. The Hong Kong and Taipei connections -------------- ¶10. (C) Meanwhile, the Vatican has a "papal representative" in Hong Kong. The Vatican, explained Rota, created the position in 1989 as a "study mission" -- in anticipation of the British return of the colony. While the representative's work is similar to that of a nuncio, his job is far more difficult because he is not allowed to travel through China. He can not visit seminaries, speak with bishops, or conduct the kind of work nuncios generally do. ¶11. (C) For the Vatican, Rota said, diplomatic relations are a means to promote religious freedom, not/not an end to themselves. The goal, he added, is to create space for the Church to operate free of government interference. ¶12. (C) The Vatican's diplomatic ties with Taiwan are not an obstacle to better relations with the PRC, according to Rota. Taipei and Beijing now talk regularly, a welcome development that eases tensions. The Vatican would make alternative arrangements short of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, if this would improve ties with Beijing or religious freedom in the mainland. A few grace notes -------------- ¶13. (C) After his discouraging recitation of the many and profound problems the Catholic Church faces in China, however, Rota made an effort to name a few bright spots. Catholic faithful are free to receive sacraments and participate in religious celebrations, and the number of people being baptized in China is rising steadily. Moreover, Chinese Catholic lay people are not persecuted. And the Church cooperates with the Chinese government on several critical concerns, such as the prevention and treatment of AIDS and leprosy. Still, Rota said, these are limited positive points to balance against the Church's extremely difficult position in China. Comment -------------- ¶14. (C) The Vatican's bottom line is that neither Chinese economic progress nor the Olympic Games have brought changes to the government's tough approach towards the Catholic Church. Bishop Jia's arrest and events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Patriotic Association, Vatican officials say, confirm this. ¶15. (C) In the past the Vatican has been cool to (or at best ambivalent about) active USG intercession on religious freedom for the Catholic Church in China. This time, however, Rota welcomed USG interest in Bishop Jia's arrest. He suggested that the USG also tell the PRC it has nothing to fear from a more independent Catholic Church, and that Chinese-American Catholics would welcome better Beijing-Vatican relations. ¶16. (C) The next battle of wills is likely to be the convening VATICAN 00000061 003.2 OF 003 in China of the National Congress of Catholic Representatives, a government-supported meeting to elect the leadership of the Patriotic Association and the Conference of Chinese bishops every five years. The Vatican hopes that bishops loyal to the Pope will not be forced to take part in a meeting that denies the Pope any role in the affairs of the Chinese Catholic Church. NOYES