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Handout #258 |
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Christianity and patriotism in China |
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Shocked by the French 'patriotism' of some
European missionaries and by the control of Chinese missions by the French
consul, Fr. Lebbe remonstrated about this with his bishop. That brought
disgrace upon him and forced him to return temporarily to Europe. However,
the letter Maximum illud of Benedict XV (1919) and the ordination of
the first Chinese bishops by Pius XI in 1926 confirmed that Fr. Lebbe's
views were well-founded.
Letter to Monsignor Reynaud, Ningpo, 18 September 1917 The Chinese Christians have the right, indeed the duty, to become patriots in the same way as the Christians of Europe and America. The impression that these seventeen years in the apostolate have given me, a very clear impression, is that the basic obstacle to the coming of the kingdom of God to these masses - I do not say that it is the only one - is the nationalist question. Humanly speaking, barring a miracle, the barrier which separates them from the church is impassable, and only we can tear it down. That is why if real patriotism is laudable and praised in European churches, it is necessary for the church of China. Patriotism is one of the indispensable human conditions for Catholicism taking root in the people and attracting the masses. Monsignor, on my knees and with my forehead in the dust, I tell you that for thirty-three years as a bishop you have trained good priests; I have been told that some of them are well instructed and others indeed eminent. Has the thought never occurred to you that the best of all, for example Fr. Sun, could bear comparison with Mgr. Favreau or Fr. Lepers? That Fr. Zi could have been a district director? If you are afraid that your European colleagues cannot admit this, cannot submit to a superior of a race other than their own, are you not misjudging them? Are we priests not capable of doing for the love of Jesus Christ what so many European civilians do for love of money - on the railways, in the customs, in the schools? Moreover, our training of indigenous priests is dragging on for ever in preparation for auxiliary clergy ... |
