Chinese Catholic leaders have held friendly talks with the
visiting US Catholic Archbishop of Washington Theodore Cardinal
McCarrick on strengthening friendly exchanges of Catholic
communities on both sides.
The Chinese side comprised leaders of the Chinese Patriotic
Catholic Association and the Chinese Catholic Bishops College.
"We've learnt from our Catholic friends in Hong Kong that
certain Catholic leaders there have become political stars. They've
been putting on shows in such a vigorous way that outshines even
show business stars. This does not conform with their religious
roles," a Chinese Catholic leader said during the meeting here on
Monday.
McCarrick agreed with the Chinese Catholic leaders that crossing
the line between religion and politics was dangerous for
Catholicism.
In a visit later to the newly expanded Chinese Catholic
Seminary, McCarrick said Chinese Catholicism had a long-term plan
for the cultivation of talent and a great future.
He also commended the support the Chinese government had given
to Chinese Catholicism.
(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2003)