Vatican-China ‘deal with the devil’ appears delayed until at least June
Catholic Church in Jingzhou, China ()
A deal between the Vatican and China appears to have been delayed:
April 4, 2018
Speculation that a Sino-Vatican agreement covering the appointment of bishops and other thorny issues would be reached in March have proved unfounded.
A Vatican spokesman said on the eve of Holy Thursday that no deal was imminent.
Fears of the underground Catholic Church in China that it would come under state control have eased a little, but reaching an agreement between the Vatican and Beijing has not been shelved or cancelled, only delayed until at least June.
The underground church has refused to join the government-backed Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association linked to what is known as the open church.
Italian daily newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported on Feb. 19 that Pope Francis had expressed a willingness in principle to sign an agreement. …
Wang Meixiu, a Beijing-based academic who researches Catholicism in China, said there needed to be a resolution of outstanding issues involving seven “illicit bishops.”
There has been speculation that the pope could use his authority to grant a “pardon” in some cases to bishops previously ordained without Vatican approval.
Wang also stressed it was important whether the Holy See recognized those illicit bishops only in name or granted them the power to govern dioceses.
On March 28, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang maintained that China was sincere about wanting to improve relations with the Vatican. https://www.ucanews.com/news/despite-speculation-no-vatican-china-deal-anytime-soon/81956
China Insists on Control of Religion, Dimming Hope of Imminent Vatican Deal
Some Catholics and others have raised concerns about the Vatican’s hoped for deal with China:
Chen Guangcheng: ‘Vatican Is Making a Deal With the Devil,’ the Chinese CP
April 3, 2018
In reference to the Vatican’s pending agreement with the Communist Chinese government on a shared role in the appointment of Catholic bishops, famed Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng said the Vatican “has abandoned its principles” and is “making a deal with the Devil,” the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“After the CCP holds the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in March this year, Beijing will send representatives to the Vatican to sign the agreement,” said Chen in a commentary published by Radio Free Asia and translated by Chinascope.org.
“This, in fact, is the equivalent of selling out God’s home to the Devil,” said Chen. The Vatican’s deal with the CCP has been denounced by other China-watchers, including Cardinal Joseph Zen, the coadjutor bishop of Hong Kong. Cardinal Zen has described the Vatican-China plan as “suicidal” and believes the Vatican is “selling out the Catholic Church in China.” https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/chen-guangcheng-vatican-making-deal-devil-chinese-communist-party
13 February 2018
The Catholic church risks damaging its moral authority and plunging its followers into confusion if the Vatican presses ahead with an imminent deal with the Chinese government, a group of influential Catholics has warned.
Fifteen lawyers, academics and human rights activists, most based in Hong Kong, have signed an open letter to bishops across the world expressing dismay at an agreement which would involve the Vatican recognising seven bishops appointed by China’s Communist party.
The deal is aimed at restoring relations between China and the Vatican, which were cut almost 70 years ago. But the group of leading Catholics say it could create a schism in the church in China.
“We are worried that the agreement would not only fail to guarantee the limited freedom desired by the church, but also … deal a blow to the church’s moral power,” the letter says. “Please rethink the current agreement, and stop making an irreversible and regrettable mistake.”
The letter comes less than two weeks after a senior Catholic leader in Asia accused the Vatican of selling out the church in its efforts to make a deal with the Chinese government.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, wrote in a blog post: “Do I think the Vatican is selling out the Catholic church in China? Yes, definitely, if they go in the direction which is obvious from all what they are doing in recent years and months.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/13/vatican-agreement-with-china-could-deal-blow-to-catholic-church
As part of his interfaith and ecumenical agendas, Pope Francis has reportedly agreed to replace a couple of bishops loyal to the Vatican with bishops that the Chinese government has chosen and who pledged loyalty to that government above the Vatican. The Vatican also intends to accept more Chinese government influence over Catholic theological matters.
Did you know that some in the Church of Rome consider China to be the example of how to govern? Check out the following:
April 3, 2018
In addition to criticizing the Vatican plan, Chen Guangcheng sharply denounced the pro-Communist China remarks of Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorodono, the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in Rome.
In early February, Bishop Sorodono said, “Right now, those who are best implementing the social doctrine of the Church are the Chinese.” He praised the brutal Communist regime as”extraordinary,” and falsely asserted, “You do not have shanty towns, you do not have drugs, young people do not take drugs,” and there is a “positive national conscience.”
Chen Guangcheng said, “Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo’s recent remarks are disconcerting. I cannot but ask: Are they pretending to be naive, or are they really that naive? Are they really trying to lead the Catholic Church, which has more than one billion followers, to make a deal with the anti-Christian and antichrist CCP?” https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/chen-guangcheng-vatican-making-deal-devil-chinese-communist-party
“Right now, those who are best implementing the social doctrine of the Church are the Chinese,” a senior Vatican official has said.
Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, praised the Communist state as “extraordinary”, saying: “You do not have shantytowns, you do not have drugs, young people do not take drugs”. Instead, there is a “positive national conscience”.
The bishop told the Spanish-language edition of Vatican Insider that in China “the economy does not dominate politics, as happens in the United States, something Americans themselves would say.”
Bishop Sánchez Sorondo said that China was implementing Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ better than many other countries and praised it for defending Paris Climate Accord. “In that, it is assuming a moral leadership that others have abandoned”, he added.
He accused US president Donald Trump of being “manipulated” by global oil firms, and said that, as opposed to those who follow “liberal thought”, the Chinese are working for the greater good of the planet.
The Vatican and China have been holding talks in recent years over the status of the ‘underground’ Church and the appointment of bishops. 02/06/18 http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/02/06/china-is-the-best-implementer-of-catholic-social-doctrine-says-vatican-bishop/
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 86-year-old retired bishop of Hong Kong, wrote an open letter posted on Facebook, saying the Vatican is “selling out” struggling Catholics. The Vatican, he said, has deferred to a “fake” Chinese structure.
Steve Mosher, a Catholic with decades of experience in China, including being tossed in jail, asked: “Why should the Catholic Church participate in its own dissolution and destruction? Why would we do this?” He told EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo that the Vatican’s negotiating strategy is “simply negotiating the surrender of the underground Church” to a false church created by China’s atheists.
As to the recent comments by Sorondo, Catholic author Paul Kengor wrote: “That, of course, is a jaw-dropper. You couldn’t find a radical leftie at the Huffington Post or even The Nation who would dare drop that whopper.”
Kengor points out that China accounts for half the world’s female suicides and still practices population control and forced abortion.
“Let’s be candid about this, as this is a dire moment that demands frank talk,” writes Kengor. “These are the thoughts of a person who is ideologically unhinged. Pope Francis has warned of the corrupting force of ideology; our always-candid pope condemns ideological ‘fanatics.’ Well, here’s a bishop close to Francis whose ability to comprehend reality has been corrupted by ideology.”
Kengor quotes George Neumayr, former editor of Catholic World Report, as telling him: “I wrote about the pope’s capitulation to the Chinese communists in my book, ‘The Political Pope.’ The most recent developments were telegraphed by the pope years ago. I also wrote about the bishop. … He has been a Vatican gateway for the (George) Soros crowd and very much reflects the pope’s thinking. He is the one who set up the Bernie Sanders invite to the Vatican and made a point of telling everyone that Sanders was the only presidential candidate invited. … His academy is overflowing with socialists and communists.”
Kengor, who calls Sorondo, “an old Argentinian friend of Francis who’s part of his inner circle,” believes the pope is deeply influenced by his ideas. http://www.wnd.com/2018/02/vatican-china-best-example-of-churchs-social-doctrine/#ItlpIVqKri3sJ02D.99
So, a close advisor to Pope Francis wants the government of China to be shown as the standard for the world as to how Roman Catholic policies are best being administered.
In the Continuing Church of God, we do not look at secular governments that way. We believe that humanity needs to repent and turn to the God of the Bible as the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord are coming. This will be a terrible time:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
The governments of this world will be replaced:
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)
This is the good news of the implementation of the first phase of the Kingdom of God.
That is the government that the Bible endorses.
As far as those that will be “best implementing the social doctrine of the Church,” the Bible warns that the City of Seven Hills (Rome) will be too involved with secular governments:
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. … 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:1-9,18)
9. And here is understanding, that hath wisdom. The seven heads: are seven hills, upon which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings. (Apocalypse 17:9, New Testament translated out of the Latin Vulgate)
4 Come out, my people, away from her, so that you do not share in her crimes and have the same plagues to bear. (Revelation 18:4, NJB)
The Church of Rome, and various Protestant and Eastern Orthodox groups, are promoting deals with the world that are essentially warned against in the Bible.
The Vatican’s expected deal with China is consistent with end time prophecies involving the City of Seven Hills/Mountains–which even Vatican scholars realize is a biblical reference to Rome.
A likely compromise with China is only one of many that the Vatican will make.
Perhaps I should add that I was personally told by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople when my wife and I visited their church headquarters that the then Pope Benedict XVI told the Patriarch that the Vatican would compromise on ALL doctrinal differences with the Eastern Orthodox IF the Eastern Orthodox would agree to accept papal authority (for some details, see Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?).
Irrespective of what happens with China, expect doctrinal and other compromises from the Church of the Seven-hills as it moves to promote its interfaith and ecumenical agendas.
Some items of related interest may include:
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed?
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of a new 186 page book (in the print version). And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roma”? This 186 page book provides information and answers. This book is available for USD$9.98 in printed form The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist? 1964 article by David Jon Hill, originally published in the old Good News magazine.
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis I is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis I be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? This is a YouTube video.
Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions. Whether or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. Is telling the truth about the early church citing Catholic accepted sources anti-Catholic? This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church. There is also a YouTube sermon on the subject titled Church of God or Church of Rome: What Do Catholic Scholars Admit About Early Church History?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church?
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