Pope Francis recently stated that a “sign from God” is partially behind the newly inked agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Government.
The Communist government, as of late, has amped up persecution of Christians; further, in some instances, authorities have detained believers indefinitely, burned Crosses, demolished Churches, and imprisoned pastors.
The result of the deal would allow for certain Bishops to be recognized by both the Catholic Church and the Communist Government.
The deal comes at a time when both organizations are under intense scrutiny; the Catholic Church for rampant sexual abuses, and the Chinese government for its intense persecution of Christians.
Many organizations are upset with the deal and criticized its signatory just last week;
“CSW is deeply concerned about the timing of this provisional agreement between the Chinese government and the Vatican,” CSW’s East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said in a statement.
“While we understand some of the motivations behind the Vatican’s effort toward an agreement, there are significant concerns about the implications for freedom of religion or belief in China.”
In addition, China Aid made its stance regarding the deal also very clear, in fact, they characterized the agreement as a “betrayal of both the millions of suffering persecuted Christians in China and the global Catholic Church.”
“This could be a repeat of the 1940s Hitler’s Germany, when the German state church consented to the persecution and slaughtered millions of Jews,” China Aid President Bob Fu said.
“Ironically, how can the Vatican respond with a good clear conscience for this appeasement deal while the CCP just launched a secret war vowing the wipe out of underground Catholics and Protestants?” he asked.
Furthermore, looking back, its no mystery as to why Pope Francis sought to connect a deal between the Catholic Church and the Communist Government.
On November 7th, 2016, Pope Francis stated during an interview that “it’s the Communists who think like Christians.”
Scalfari boldly asks; “You told me some time ago that the precept, “Love your neighbour as thyself” had to change, given the dark times that we are going through, and become “more than thyself.” So you yearn for a society where equality dominates. This, as you know, is the programme of Marxist socialism and then of communism. Are you therefore thinking of a Marxist type of society?”
In a jaw-dropping response, the Pope says; “It has been said many times and my response has always been that, if anything, it is the communists who think like Christians. Christ spoke of a society where the poor, the weak and the marginalized have the right to decide. Not demagogues, not Barabbas, but the people, the poor, whether they have faith in a transcendent God or not. It is they who must help to achieve equality and freedom”