- Feb 5, 2002
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Pope Leo XIV is reportedly deliberating on the future of the recently renewed Vatican-China deal from 2018. Meanwhile, authorities in Beijing are intensifying their crackdown on Catholic conscientious objectors
Those Catholics, particularly priests and bishops, who refuse to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for reasons of conscience, although joining the Patriotic Association is both allowed and regulated by the Vatican Guidelines of 2019. The Guidelines, although not specifically encouraging this choice, declare it a legitimate option and ask other Catholics to "respect” it.
" href="Catholic conscientious objectors | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Catholic conscientious objectors who oppose the agreement. They are part of an underground church that, in theory, should have merged with the government-controlled Patriotic Catholic Church
See Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
" href="Patriotic Catholic Church | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Patriotic Catholic Church and ceased to exist.
In the southeastern Chinese Province
(省). A part of the administrative division of China at the highest, provincial level. China includes 22 provinces (although sometimes the government mentions 23, by adding Taiwan).
" href="Province | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">province of Zhejiang, particularly within the Diocese of Wenzhou, a concerning crackdown on the underground church has reached alarming proportions. This intensified campaign, which began in spring 2025, involves the systematic arrests of priests, nuns, and lay followers, the closing of places of worship, and coercive methods aimed at forcing clergy and believers into compliance with the Patriotic Catholic Church
See Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
" href="Patriotic Catholic Church | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Patriotic Catholic Church.
The immediate catalyst for this aggression stemmed from a pilgrimage abroad taken by a group of underground clergy and believers in 2024. Upon their return, authorities launched a baseless accusation of “illegal migration,” claiming they conducted religious activities while using tourist visas. This charge appears to be a mere fabrication, intended to coerce Bishop Shao Zhumin, a key advocate for conscientious objection, into conforming to the Patriotic Church.
Continued below.
bitterwinter.org
Those Catholics, particularly priests and bishops, who refuse to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for reasons of conscience, although joining the Patriotic Association is both allowed and regulated by the Vatican Guidelines of 2019. The Guidelines, although not specifically encouraging this choice, declare it a legitimate option and ask other Catholics to "respect” it.
" href="Catholic conscientious objectors | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Catholic conscientious objectors who oppose the agreement. They are part of an underground church that, in theory, should have merged with the government-controlled Patriotic Catholic Church
See Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
" href="Patriotic Catholic Church | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Patriotic Catholic Church and ceased to exist.
In the southeastern Chinese Province
(省). A part of the administrative division of China at the highest, provincial level. China includes 22 provinces (although sometimes the government mentions 23, by adding Taiwan).
" href="Province | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">province of Zhejiang, particularly within the Diocese of Wenzhou, a concerning crackdown on the underground church has reached alarming proportions. This intensified campaign, which began in spring 2025, involves the systematic arrests of priests, nuns, and lay followers, the closing of places of worship, and coercive methods aimed at forcing clergy and believers into compliance with the Patriotic Catholic Church
See Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
" href="Patriotic Catholic Church | Bitter Winter" target="_blank" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 51, 51); color: rgb(221, 51, 51) !important;">Patriotic Catholic Church.
The immediate catalyst for this aggression stemmed from a pilgrimage abroad taken by a group of underground clergy and believers in 2024. Upon their return, authorities launched a baseless accusation of “illegal migration,” claiming they conducted religious activities while using tourist visas. This charge appears to be a mere fabrication, intended to coerce Bishop Shao Zhumin, a key advocate for conscientious objection, into conforming to the Patriotic Church.
Continued below.
Wenzhou, New Crackdown on Catholic Conscientious Objectors
Despite the agreement with the Vatican, China continues to arrest priests, nuns, and believers who refuse to join the CCP-controlled Patriotic Church.
bitterwinter.org