Tibetans, Catholics, and Religious Freedom

Just about every single person in Berkeley seems to support Tibetan independence. Most take this stance as the chic activist, who thinks that she is standing up for injustice when in reality, she fails to understand the root of the problem. The issue with the Tibet Region (衛藏) is not one of independence, but reflective of the larger human rights violation of the Chinese Communist Party. The authoritarian regime of the CCP continues to deny one out of five people in the world the freedom of religion. This includes not only the 5 million Tibetan Buddhists but also 10 million Roman Catholics in China.

Vatican City under the authority of the Holy See remains the only European state not to recognise the legitimacy of Communist China. The lack of normal relations between the two entities, due to conflicting values of the Catholic Church and the CCP, has caused a predicament for the Roman Catholics in China. Chinese Catholics are forced to choose between the state-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which the CCP controls and operates, and the underground community loyal to the Holy See. Those who refuse to worship in the CPCA and continue worshipping in underground churches are subject to punishments including the death penalty. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former Bishop of Hong Kong, has repeatedly criticised the CCP for its continued religious persecution on the Mainland. His successor, Bishop Tong has continued the rhetoric of Cardinal Zen saying that “the present situation in China regarding the human rights and religious freedom is still far from ideal”. Even Pope Benedict XVI has accused the CCP of "grave violations of religious freedom".

The plight of Tibetan Buddhists and Chinese Catholics are closely related. Both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have held audiences with the current Dalai Lama. They all agree that the CCP is essentially morally bankrupt. The Dalai Lama has said that “because of its very poor record on human rights and religious freedom and freedom of expression and freedom of the press -- too much censorship -- the image of [the CCP] in the field of moral authority is very, very poor”. Even though Communist China is perennially the subject of lengthy human rights abuse reports, the Republic of China rarely, if ever, appears to violate the freedom of religion. President Ma Ying-jeou made one of the boldest statements among any head of state last year concerning the Olympic Games in Beijing when he threatened that the Taiwanese delegation would boycott the Summer Games if the CCP “continues to suppress the Tibetan people and the situation gets worse”. The continued support for the freedom of religion is evident in the fact that over two-thirds of Taiwan is Buddhists and/or Taoists. Furthermore, there are over a million people who identify as either Christian or Muslim in Taiwan.

Therefore, the example that the Republic of China has set forth ought to offer some hope to the continued struggles of the Chinese Catholics and Tibetan Buddhists along with millions of others under the oppressive rule of the CCP. While individually these faith communities seem small, Luke tells them, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”. Matthew echoes Luke’s call to persevere because the faithful “are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world…just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds”.

In conclusion, I would like to share a prayer Pope Benedict XVI included in his letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007: May Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church and Queen of China, who at the hour of the Cross patiently awaited the morning of the Resurrection in the silence of hope, accompany you with maternal solicitude and intercede for all of you, together with Saint Joseph and the countless Holy Martyrs of China.