WEDNESDAY
January 31, 2001
volume 12, no. 31

    ROME, 29 (NE) The Catholic Church in Taiwan is committing herself to be a bridge for the evangelization of mainland China, highlighted this week Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte, Secretary general of the Synod of Bishops. In declarations to Fides during his trip to Taiwan, Cardinal Schotte said that Church in the island "welcomed the mandate issued by the Pope in 1984. It is giving serious attention to his call to be a bridge between the universal Church and the Church in mainland China, today a martyr Church."

    The Cardinal stressed that this is being achieved "not so much through great projects and programs in China, but rather through 'normal' contact with Chinese Catholics." "For example" he explained, "contact between families, between priests, or religious, whose acquaintance was made either before the separation or after. Also through exchange of teachers and religious who go to mainland China to give formation courses or updating conferences." This approach, he emphasized, "makes use of every opportunity to demonstrate genuine concern for the Church in mainland China. This sort of approach can step over the limits set by Beijing's 'official' attitude towards the Church and the Holy See."

    Regarding the reality of the Church in Taiwan, Cardinal Schotte noted that the island has "one of the most developed societies in the Far East. Progress means ever higher standards of living and here lies the challenge to the Church in Taiwan, pastoral work must be adapted to meet the changing times." "The Church" he said, "must develop new pastoral activity in towns and parishes to help people discover the religious dimension of life, and not to be content with reaching only material wellbeing."

January 31, 2001 volume 12, no. 31 News from the Universal Church www.DailyCatholic.org