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Handout #276 |
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The Church in Communist China |
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To separate the Chinese Catholics from Rome,
the Chinese Communist Party launched a campaign for triple autonomy
(government, finance, personal) over against the West. Those who did not
accept this were either eliminated physically or expelled. At the same time
the party pressurized or forced the Catholics to form patriotic associations
which designated their own bishops.
The martyr's choice The Communist armies entered Shanghai on 24 May 1949. Though prudent, Fr. Bede Tsang, Rector of St Ignatius College at Zikawei, was not afraid to expose himself to danger when this was called for in defense of the young people for whom he was responsible. In the spring of 1951 he had to take part in the congress of private schools in eastern China arranged by the Department of Education. At the end of the session the members of the congress were asked to approve a joint declaration committing them to promoting the movement of triple independence among their Catholic pupils. Fr. Tsang, followed by four other delegates, rose to signify his refusal. He clearly expounded some basic points of Catholic doctrine, explained the true conception of the autonomy of the church in each country, and appealed for the government's understanding. He ended by showing the natural foundation that love of country finds in Christian faith ... The delegates applauded him and then stopped uneasily. The motion had to be withdrawn. However, Fr Tsang had just condemned himself. On 9 August 1951, about 1 pm., they came for him; the police wanted to chat with him. In prison it seems to have been suggested that the Father should became head of the separatist church in Shanghai. When he refused, they tried to break his will in order to use him in spite of himself. There followed long nights of interrogation in which insomnia and inner tension combined to drain him of his last resistance. Prisoners Heard Fr. Tsang say: 'Jesus, Mary, Joseph, save me. 'The guards went even further, and Fr. Tsang sank into a coma. In an attempt to catch a victim who was slipping from their grasp, they transferred him to the prison hospital on 30 October. On 11November 1951, at eight in the morning, Fr. Tsang escaped them forever. Jean Monsterleet, Les martyrs de Chine parlent, 1953. |
