US embassy cable - 02VATICAN5194

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BEIJING ALSO PASS AMCONSUL CHENGDU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2012 
TAGS: PREL, KIRF, CH, VT, religious freedom 
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE WOULD WELCOME CONTINUED PRESIDENTIAL PUSH 
FOR GREATER RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CHINA 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES D. BRENT HARDT FOR REASON 1.5(B) AND ( 
D) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH CHINESE 
PRESIDENT JIANG OCTOBER 24 IN CRAWFORD, THE HOLY SEE WOULD 
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WELCOME A CONTINUED STRONG PRESIDENTIAL PUSH FOR RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM IN CHINA, REINFORCING THE MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT 
DELIVERED IN HIS LAST MEETING WITH JIANG.  HOLY SEE FOREIGN 
MINISTER ARCHBISHOP JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TOLD CHARGE OCTOBER 22 
THAT THE HOLY SEE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS 
ON BEHALF OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE POSITION OF THE 
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HIS LAST MEETING, AND BELIEVES A 
REITERATION OF THE SAME POINTS AT THIS TIME WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
 AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOLY SEE IS NOT CONVINCED THAT THE 
TIMING IS PROPITIOUS TO PRESS TOO HARD FOR SPECIFIC 
CONCESSIONS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIOR TO THE COMMUNIST 
PARTY CONGRESS, AS JIANG MAY BE LESS RECEPTIVE NOW THAN AFTER 
THE CONGRESS.  RATHER, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES IT WOULD BE 
USEFUL FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO INSIST ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR 
ALL FAITHS IN CHINA AND TO CONVEY THAT THE UNITED STATES 
WOULD WELCOME NORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE HOLY 
SEE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) ACCORDING TO FM TAURAN AND VATICAN CHINA DESK OFFICER 
ROTA-GRAZIOSI, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
IN CHINA WILL BENEFIT MOST THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL ADVANCEMENT 
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CHINA.  THE HOLY SEE WOULD WELCOME 
THE PRESIDENT'S AFFIRMATION OF UNITED STATES' SUPPORT FOR 
NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND CHINA AND 
FOR CHINESE GOODWILL GESTURES TOWARD THE CHURCH.  SUCH 
GESTURES COULD INCLUDE PERMISSION FOR A SENIOR HOLY SEE 
REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT A LOCAL CHINESE CHURCH OR AN EASING 
OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE MANY BISHOPS AND PRIESTS BEING 
HELD IN POLICE CUSTODY, HOUSE ARREST OR UNDER HEAVY 
SURVEILLANCE.  OVER THE LONGER TERM, THE HOLY SEE WOULD LIKE 
TO SEE CHINESE AUTHORITIES PERMIT THE ORDINATION OF CHINESE 
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BISHOPS AND PRIESTS BY THE POPE AS WELL AS THE PILGRIMAGES 
AND OTHER VISITS OF CATHOLIC AUTHORITIES TO THE HOLY SEE. 
 
3.  (C) THE KEY TO SINO-VATICAN RELATIONS AT THIS JUNCTURE, 
THEY BELIEVE, IS FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BETTER 
UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SPECIFIC LINK BETWEEN CATHOLICS 
AND THE HOLY SEE.  ACCORDING TO ROTA-GRAZIOZI, THE CHINESE 
REMAIN GRIPPED WITH FEAR THAT CATHOLIC CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 
WOULD THREATEN CHINESE CIVIL POWER.  HE BELIEVED SUCH FEARS 
COULD BE ALLAYED IF THE CHINESE BETTER UNDERSTOOD THAT 
CATHOLIC FAITHFUL DO NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THE HOLY SEE'S 
POSITIONS ON INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL ISSUES AND THAT PAPAL 
AUTHORITY IS A SPIRITUAL, NOT POLITICAL, MATTER. 
 
HARDT 
 
NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) 
 
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 2002VATICA05194 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL