A martyr for the Faith – Bishop Han Dingxiang

Last updated on: August 22, 2014 at 3:57 pm by Rebecca Frech

A martyr for the Faith – Bishop Han Dingxiang 2014-08-22T15:57:32-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The death has been announced of Bishop Han Dingxiang, who died while in the custody of the Chinese government. The government than cremated his body 6 hours after his death, at 5 AM.

Han was the underground Catholic bishop of Hebei’s Yongnian diocese and was ordained in December 1989.

He was imprisoned at a labour camp from 1960 to 1979 and detained at least 11 times during his tenure as a bishop, spending about 35 years in different forms of official custody.

Han’s last arrest was in November 1999 while he was conducting a religious retreat for nuns, the statement said.

He was believed to have been held under house arrest at a police apartment from 2003 to 2005.

But members of his congregation had heard no more of him since September 2005, when he was secretly moved to another location.

He is one of a score of elderly priests and bishops who have “conveniently” died within the last few years. Could it be that the Chinese government is stiking out quietly at the underground Roman Catholic Church? A case could certainly be made to show that they are. Let us pray that the Vatican demands an inquest into this matter and does not allow such things to happen in the quiet and the shadows, but exposes them in the light of day.

As for Bishop Dingxiang, I pray that this holy martyr of the Church may at long last find some rest and be greeted at the gates of heaven with “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, now enter into my Kingdom.”

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 11, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti - Ave Maria - Schubert

Next Post

September 12, 2007 Skip Work, Make Babies

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and tried to discourage the Jews?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Amalekites Their enemies/Samaritans Moabites Philistines