chinese patriotic catholic association

The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (中国天主教爱国会; designated variously as CPA, CPCA, or CCPA) is the official organizational body of Catholics in China as recognized by the Communist government of the People's Republic of China. The Communist Party of China has decided it does not want to have any organization in mainland China swearing loyalty to any 'foreign influence' (in this case, the Pope). Critics of the CPA argue that its main purpose is to establish state control over Catholicism in mainland China. Regardless, it is has historically been the policy of the PRC government, including prior to 1949 in many respects, for the state to reserve the right to regulate all social activities for what it judges as the benefit of state and people. Officially religious organizations in mainland China today must be government-recognized and approved, although there are a large number of unofficial unregistered organizations. The CPA is a schism from the Catholic Church. The full Roman Catholic Church, in communion with the Pope, does exist in mainland China, although members are subject to official harassment, and some leaders have been jailed for what are widely believed to be political reasons. In mainland China there are about 4 million members of the CPA, and 12 million members of the authentic ("underground") Catholic Church—defined as being in communion with the Vatican. However, the two have considerable overlap, and up to 70 percent of the priests in the official church, it is estimated, may have also been reconciled with the Vatican and are secretly part of the unofficial church. The Vatican recognizes the validity of Holy Orders and other sacraments in the CPA because the bishops are episcopal successors of a bishop who received valid orders before this particular schism. The existence of the CPA in place of an official church under the authority of the Vatican—as well as other reasons from both sides—has prevented the Holy See from establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China; it instead continues to recognize the Republic of China government on Taiwan. Among the novel teachings of the CPA are support for artificial contraception and abortion, and a rejection of the Pope's authority. In addition, the CPA rejects Catholic doctrine formulated after 1949, notably the Vatican II council. As a result, for over forty years, all masses conducted by the CPA were according to the Tridentine rite. In the early 1990's, however, the CPA reformed its liturgy to one closely adhering to the Novus Ordo Missae. Other religions in mainland China have established "patriotic" organizations after 1949:

Three-Self Patriotic Movement for Protestants
Chinese Patriotic Islamic Association

However, the political situation is somewhat different for them--for unlike Catholicism, there is no need for dependence on any authority geographically lying outside mainland China.

External links

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Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association

See also

Other "patriotic" Catholic bodies

External links