Jan 13, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 12, 2000
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today expressed disappointment with China's move last week to consecrate five Catholic bishops. The Chinese authorities reportedly use a litmus test for such government-approved bishops: They must disavow allegiance to Rome.
"A church is not free when it cannot govern itself and select its own clergy," said Rabbi David Saperstein, the Commission's chairman. "That's especially true when a government demands loyalty to the state instead of spiritual qualifications for office."
Equally troubling, Chairman Saperstein said, was the ordination by bishops associated with the "Catholic Patriotic Association" of Su Changshan as auxiliary bishop for the Baoding diocese in Hebei province. The Vatican-recognized bishop, Su Zhimin, was arrested in 1997 and his whereabouts are unknown. The Chinese government denied taking any "coercive measures" against him, but refused at least one foreign delegation permission to visit him in 1998. The Commission called for the Chinese government to account for Bishop Su Zhimin's detention, well-being and whereabouts.
China's Communist government broke ties with the Vatican when it took power in 1949. Catholics were forced into the "Patriotic Catholic Association," which claims about 4 million members in some 4,600 churches. Vatican sources estimate the number of Catholics in the underground church at 10 million to 12 million. These Catholics worship in underground "house churches," risking harassment, arrest, and torture by the police. Several bishops and priests loyal to Rome are in jail or house detention.
Saperstein noted that China's action in ordaining the bishops was a serious step backwards from efforts over the past few years to improve Vatican-Chinese relations. Press reports quoting church officials say the two sides held secret talks last year over improving relations. "The action to consecrate these bishops appears to be a retreat on China's part from such efforts and was particularly provocative, coming on the same date that the Pope was consecrating new bishops worldwide.
"This is part of an escalating pattern of religious repression in China," Saperstein said. He pointed to the reported arrests of 100 Christian "house church" leaders; the reported arrests of two Catholic bishops since August and death of a priest in police custody; the crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and sentencing of four of its leaders to long prison terms; and the harassment of Tibetan Buddhist monks and Uighur Muslims. "We urge the United States government to again publicly condemn China's persecution of religion," Saperstein said. He added that the US should also include a condemnation of that religious persecution in the resolution on Chinese human rights violations it will introduce in the United Nations Human Rights Commission this coming March and work vigorously for its approval.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Rabbi David Saperstein,Chair
- Dean Michael K. Young,Vice ChairHon. Elliott AbramsLaila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. BoltonFiruz KazemzadehArchbishop Theodore E. McCarrickNina SheaJustice Charles Z. SmithAmbassador Robert Seiple,Ex-OfficioSteven T. McFarland,Executive Director
Dec 31, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 30, 1999
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
The repression of religion in China has worsened considerably in recent weeks with the sentencing of several Falun Gong and Christian leaders to long prision terms, said Rabbi David Saperstein, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today.
"The exercise of state power in trying to quash religious expression -- including arrests, imprisionment, and the use of state-run media to slander people because of their religious practices, worship, or teaching -- is alarming to all those who care about religious freedom," Chairman Saperstein said. "This can only set back China's current efforts to participate fully in a world community committed to international rights and liberties."
"The Chinese leaders must understand they are not operating in a vacuum," Saperstein said. "The outside world is appalled by what they are doing."
Four leaders of the Falun Gong spiritual movement received stiff prison terms ranging from seven to 18 years on Dec. 26 after a nine-hour show trial. Meanwhile, detentions of peaceful protests by Falun Gong practitioners continued apace in Tiananmen Square, where press reports said 20 more silent protesters were seized by police Tuesday. Police also reportedly re-arrested a university student and sent her to a labor camp for three years for posting on the Internet a picture of her ankles, bloody and infected from police leg irons. Press reports and human rights organizations say that at least 35,000 Falun Gong supporters have been arrested during a half-year crackdown on the movement, and perhaps thousands remain in detention.
Falun Gong is a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, and traditional Chinese exercise, taught by Li Hongzhi, who now lives in the United States. The Chinese government has labeled it a dangerous "cult" and issued a warrant for Li Hongzhi's arrest.
Chinese authorities last week also convicted six leaders of Protestant Christian groups in central China, according to the Hong-Kong based Information Center for Human Rights and Democratic Movement. Six leaders of underground "house" churches were sentenced to "labor education camps" for terms ranging from one to three years. The six were originally arrested in August. China's "house churches," which tend to be charismatic and evangelical, operate outside state-sanctioned churches, in violation of Chinese law. "The only crime these Christians are guilty of is worshipping God according to the dictates of their consciences." Saperstein said.
Saperstein said the Commission will continue to follow closely the developing situation in China and make recommendations for U.S. policy response in accordance with its congressional mandate.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Rabbi David Saperstein,Chair
- Dean Michael K. Young,Vice Chair, Hon. Elliott Abrams, Laila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. Bolton, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, Nina Shea, Justice Charles Z. Smith, Ambassador Robert Seiple, Ex-Officio Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director
Dec 22, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 21, 1999
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
As United States and international policymakers wrestle with the important question about how best to express their deepest concern over Russian behavior in Chechnya, they should bear in mind that religious bigotry is helping fuel the conflict, said Rabbi David Saperstein, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
"The Russian war on the tiny Chechen nation is more than ethnic-- Moscow is exploiting and inciting deep-seated and historic religious prejudices among the Russian population," Chairman Saperstein said. "This is most apparent in the constant reference to 'Islamic' or 'Muslim' terrorists or 'bandits.'" Almost all Chechens are Muslims, while the majority of Russians identify with the Russian Orthodox Church, a Christian denomination.
Saperstein noted that while the Russian government blames Chechen separatists for a series of apartment bombings in Moscow and elsewhere earlier this year that killed hundreds, it has to date presented no evidence as to who was responsible. "One has to wonder how a police force that reportedly hasn't solved a single murder case involving businessmen can be so certain about who is to blame for the bombings," the chairman said. "And at any rate, the entire Chechen nation is not responsible for the alleged crimes of a few."
Saperstein called upon the U.S. government "to press Russia to stop playing upon popular prejudice against and fear of Muslims to justify its military excesses. The West must make clear to the Russian government that, while we value our relationship with them and want no return to a cold war, they cannot behave in this fashion and expect no repercussions."
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Rabbi David Saperstein,Chair
- Dean Michael K. Young,Vice Chair Hon. Elliott Abrams, Laila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. Bolton, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, Nina Shea, Justice Charles Z. Smith, Ambassador Robert Seiple,Ex-Officio Steven T. McFarland,Executive Director