Beijing, China – Two priests of the underground Church of Heibei have been released by police due to ill health; 7 others arrested with them remain in prison. Local sources told AsiaNews that the priests were arrested because they had taken part in “illegal” gatherings. According to the same sources –who are forced to remain anonymous- the police are seeking to coerce them into joining the Patriotic Association.
The two men who were released, Fr. Wen Daoxiu and Fr. Li Yongshun, have serious health problems, particularly 50 year old Fr Wen, the oldest of the group who suffers with heart problems.
The arrest of the 9 priests took place on december 27th last. The group had gathered together to study in a location 30 kilometres to the south of Baoding. AsiaNews sources confirm that the motive for the arrest is that they, priests not recognised by the government met in a place that was not registered with the government. According to the states religious legislation, such actions are considered illegal, and those who carry them out “a delinquent”.
Hebei has the largest number of Catholics (1,5 million), most of whom belong to the unofficial “underground” Church. They refuse the authority of the Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics (AP), an organisation of control created by the communist party in the attempt to build a separate Church to Rome.
For the last ten years the AP has been carrying out a campaign of arrests and suppression against the bishops, priests, and faithful of Hebei.
December 30th last, Liu Bainian, the lay vice president of AP, told journalists that he 2had heard nothing” of the new arrests. He also denied that AP is carrying out a campaign against the underground Church.
According to AsiaNews data at least 6 underground bishops from Hebei are in detention or missing. Among them the ordinary bishop of Baoding, msgr. Giacomo Su Zhimin, 73 years old, arrested in '96.