Following your editorial ("The Vatican's deal with the devil," Dec. 25, page 8) the question is raised: Is the Vatican really dealing with the devil? Or are we still caught in our own mist?
The Catholic Church takes eight days, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, to celebrate Christmas; we call it "Christmastide." It is precisely to celebrate the love of God for man for entering into this imperfect human world. He lowered Himself down in order to exalt the whole of humanity.
With the editor calling someone a "devil," why should the Catholic Church be blamed when its only mission is to save souls? Are we not indebted to the Catholic Church, which, following her Savior Jesus, is also willing to lower herself down for a valuable dialogue with the "devil" for the good of all?
The editorial reveals a certain anxiety that the Catholic Church is losing her morality and causing Taiwan to be sacrificed. On this issue, former Holy See minister of foreign affairs Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran delivered a talk entitled "Is the Holy See a political power?" at Fu Jen Catholic University on Nov. 22, 2005.
He pointed out that as the father of the Catholic faithful all over the world, the Pope would never leave those in Taiwan. The Church does not recognize herself as a "political power" but a moral power. If that is not enough, one can find valid points in his speech on what "political," "power" and "Holy See" mean from a Catholic perspective.
Moreover, one cannot be forgetful of his quote from Blaise Pascal: "The essence of power is to protect" -- if there is any "power" at all acquired by the Catholic Church.
The editor has no doubt about "Beijing's good graces" toward the ordaining of three Vatican-approved bishops. However, "today the Catholic Church seeks no privilege from China and its leaders." In his letter to the Chinese Catholics on May 27, Pope Benedict admits the question of episcopal appointments is "one of the most delicate problems."
Nevertheless, "the Pope, when he issues the apostolic mandate for the ordination of a bishop, exercises his supreme spiritual authority: this authority and this intervention remain within the strictly religious sphere."
Naturally, for the Church, "there would not be any particular difficulties with acceptance of the recognition granted by civil authorities on condition that this does not entail the denial of unrenounceable principles of faith and of ecclesiastical communion."
Since the editor also recognizes that "the lure of business does not apply to the Vatican's relations with Beijing," it is time to throw out the worldly-business interpretation on the Catholic Church: "The Apostolic See sincerely seeks to be a friend to all peoples and to collaborate with persons of good will everywhere in the world."
We are still celebrating the Christmas Season. Why don't we join together in the resounding of Christmas carols, wishing peace to this disordered world?
Fr Raphael Ling
Taipei
The editorial in my opinion was very offensive, beginning with its title. The fact that you don't like something does not give you the right to demonize it.
What a difference to the last words of Vice President Annette Lu (
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