USCCB Home Page    
       
Catholic China Conference
       
China Church Quarterly
       
  Church Updates    
       
  Looking Ahead    
       
  Missionary Appeals    
       
  News Service    
       
Resources
       
  Service Opportunities    
  Study Tour    
       
  Staff    
    

RELIGIOUS STUDY TOUR TO CHINA

The US Catholic China Bureau and Seton Hall University International Institute for Clergy Formation have decided to cancel the China Religious Study Tour that was planned for October of this year.

Since the beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican and China were engaged in conversations, in the hope of solving their difference of opinions and achieving some rapprochement. High on the agenda was the question of the election of Catholic priests to the episcopate in China. We, at the USCCB, were truly hoping that an agreement might be reached by China and the Holy See.

Unfortunately, this was not to happen. First, in November 2010, there was police pressure on 8 bishops in communion with the Pope to consecrate as bishop a Chinese priest who had not been approved by the Holy See. This was followed by the same pressure tactics to force the Chinese bishops to attend the December 7-9, 2010 National Assembly of Catholic Representatives. This NACR is the umbrella organization set by the Chinese Government over the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Chinese Bishop Assembly (CBA), both organizations unapproved by the Holy See.

These events put a temporary stop on the conversations going on between China and the Vatican, and invite both sides to reassess the situation.  Obviously, it is not the best time for us to organize now a friendly Religious Study Tour in China. So we have decided to postpone it "sine die".  Yet, it is a good time for us all to answer the call of the Pope on May 24 to pray for China and for the Church in China.

Our focus will be on the Chinese people, local catholic communities, and places of cultural and religious significance associated with the history of Christianity in China. Renowned tourist attractions and other highlights included.

   

 

 

 

 


 

 

       
  Web site Contact