Now that Fatima is behind us (according to Cardinal Sodano), Vatican diplomacy marches on. On September 27, 2001, CWNews.com reported that The Far Eastern Economic Review, a Hong Kong foreign relations journal, has revealed that "the Vatican and Communist China are prepared to enact diplomatic relations." In other words, the Vatican Secretariat of State, in yet another "triumph" for Ostpolitik, seems about to sell out Taiwan for the sake of "better relations" with the diabolical, blood-drenched Red Chinese regime.

       The Review, citing ecclesiastical sources, reports that "the Vatican and China will hold a series of meetings in upcoming weeks to end the impasse over the role of the Catholic Church in China. It reported that as part of the deal, the Vatican will have to break relations with Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province."

       The Review rightly notes that the apparently pending deal, "would also weaken the stance of half a dozen predominantly Catholic countries in Central America that maintain ties with Taiwan."

       The Review's "ecclesiastical sources" state that "the process will begin on October 14 when Catholic scholars from around the world gather in Beijing for a conference to mark the 400th anniversary of the start of Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci's mission to China in 1601." What a mockery. Catholic "scholars" meeting in China, as guests of bloody Red Chinese tyrants, to commemorate the life of a Catholic missionary---in the very midst of China's persecution of the Catholic Church! The article goes on to note that "A similar ceremony will reportedly take place in Rome later in the month, where Pope John Paul will offer some form of apology for historical wrongdoing by the Catholics in China, primarily a close connection with European imperialism".

       Cardinal Sodano, please say it isn't so!

       But apparently it is. CWNnews.com notes that "among the problems to be resolved by the change in relations is the status of the Catholic Church in China. The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in churches that, while openly loyal to the government association, secretly pledge allegiance to the Pope, forming a de facto underground Church."

       There's that same nonsensical claim again: that "Catholics" who worship in China's communist-controlled, pro-abortion, utterly schismatic pseudo-church are "secretly" loyal to Rome. Please! One cannot be secretly loyal to Rome while openly adhering to an organization that publicly renounces allegiance to Rome and promotes forced abortion. The truly loyal Catholics in China belong, as they always have, to the persecuted underground Church, whose bishops and priests are being surveilled, beaten, arrested and imprisoned even as the "Catholic scholars" plan their October junket to Beijing.

       CWN's report, quoting the Review, notes that "the process is designed to be well underway by October 20 when U.S. President George W. Bush begins a two-day visit. 'This would allow Beijing to deflect U.S. criticism of its human rights record.'"

       Cardinal Ignatius Kung, the great martyr under Chinese communism, preferred life in prison to even the slightest compromise with the devils the Vatican now seems poised to recognize as China's legitimate rulers. The Cardinal must be moaning in his grave.

       But for Cardinal Sodano and his collaborators at the Vatican, it's just another day at the office: Condemn Father Gruner, recognize Red China, bury Fatima. Quite an agenda. And we can see the fruits of that agenda in the current condition of the Church and the world.

       At this point, we can only pray that these plans to sell out Taiwan and the loyal Church of the underground hit a snag, or that the Review is simply mistaken in its report.