梵中協議延長 外交部罕見發中英文稿提醒宗教自由

[新頭殼newtalk]

梵蒂岡與中國政府22日宣佈將延長「梵中主教任命臨時協議」兩年。台灣外交部也罕見地發出中英文新聞稿回應指出，教廷曾多次承諾此協定不會觸及外交及政治事務；新聞稿也提醒中國迫害宗教自由，並提醒梵諦岡，維護教宗的主教任命權，就是維護宗教自由。

外交部發言人歐江安表示，梵蒂岡曾多次對外公開表示，「梵中主教任命臨時協議」在處理教務議題，不會觸及外交或政治事務，我方高度重視教廷這項莊嚴承諾，也就此案與教廷密切聯繫，表達我方立場。

歐江安說，根據我方掌握的資訊，梵中雙方並未就主教任命協議重新簽約，而是就原協議延長兩年達成默契，並仍維持該臨時協議的實驗性質，以利觀察後續效應。

歐江安說，我國政府對「梵中主教任命臨時協議」的立場沒有改變，作為充分尊重宗教自由的國家，台灣希望該協議有助改善中國日益嚴重的宗教自由問題。

歐江安強調，但近來中國政府迫害教會的手段變本加厲，中國的宗教自由及人權狀況持續惡化，不願被中共控制的天主教徒遭遇更多的壓迫；許多主教被強制要求加入中共控制的愛國會，所謂宗教「中國化」變成「國家化」甚或「中共化」，在黨領導一切的情況下，中國教友信仰的良心面臨嚴重威脅。

歐江安說，根據天主教法典，全球各地天主教會的主教都必須由教宗任命，教廷不得讓予國家政權任何選舉、任命、推薦或指定主教的權利及特許。事實上，維護教宗的主教任命權，就是維護宗教自由，因為教會的獨立性與普世性，不容受到任何政府壓力、政黨或團體脅迫的影響。

歐江安說，外交部將密切觀察相關情勢發展，並持續推動與教廷及天主教會的合作，共同捍衛宗教自由的核心價值，對因信仰而受迫害的弱勢提供協助，持續深化我國與梵蒂岡基於共同理念的長久邦誼。

同時，外交必也發出英文新聞稿如下：

MOFA response to the extension of the Holy See-PRC provisional agreement on bishop appointments

October 22, 2020

No. 238

In response to the announcement by the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China on October 22 regarding the extension of their provisional agreement on bishop appointments for another two years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) issued the following statement:

The Holy See has publicly stated on numerous occasions that the provisional agreement with the PRC only deals with pastoral issues and does not touch on diplomatic or political matters. Taiwan highly values this solemn commitment and has maintained close contacts with the Holy See, expressing our concern and position. It is also understood that the Holy See and the PRC did not re-sign the agreement, but reached a tacit understanding to extend the original agreement for another two years and maintain its experimental nature to evaluate the results.

The Taiwan government has maintained a consistent position on the Holy See-PRC provisional agreement on bishop appointments. As a country that fully respects religious freedom, Taiwan hopes that it can help improve the worsening situation of religious freedom in the PRC. Unfortunately, as the PRC government has stepped up measures to persecute local Catholic communities, such as further suppressing believers who resist being controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and forcing many bishops to join the CCP-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, religious freedom and human rights in China have continued to deteriorate. This so called “sinicization of religion” in the PRC has become “nationalization of religion”, even characterized by extensive CCP indoctrination. With the CCP dictating all matters, Catholics in the PRC are facing serious challenges to their faith and conscience.

According to the Code of Canon Law, all bishops of the Catholic Church around the world are appointed by the Pope; civil authorities shall not be granted any rights and privileges of election, nomination, presentation, or designation of bishops. Protecting the Pope’s authority to appoint bishops ultimately serves to safeguard freedom of religion. The Catholic Church, given its independence and universality, shall not be subject to pressure or coercion from any government, political party, or group.

MOFA will closely monitor related developments. Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with the Holy See and the Catholic Church to jointly safeguard the core values of religious freedom and support those who are persecuted for their faith so as to steadily enhance its longstanding values-based diplomatic partnership with the Holy See. (E)

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