The Chinese authorities have imposed political and religious policies that have been against the principles and practices of the Catholic faith, and that they have gravely violated human rights. This has caused the Catholics in Mainland China to split into the so-called “Official Church” and “Underground Church” communities. This brings pain and suffering within the Church.
Both official and underground church communities, to a certain degree, have suffered from such violations of human rights, committed by the authorities. The faithful in China have not only their religious freedom being distorted, but also their personal liberty and freedom of association being violated...