Articles on Catholicism
ChinaSource Perspective
A Shared Hope
May the recurring message of hope amidst difficulty conveyed in these articles spark the imaginations and encourage the hearts of all who seek to stand faithfully with their brothers and sisters in China.
Resource Corner
Recommended Reading on the Catholic Church in China
The books in this list provide a robust starting point for understanding the Catholic Church in China today and how it has been shaped by its history.
Supporting Article
Chinese Bible Translation by the Catholic Church
History, Development, and Reception
Translation of scripture portions by Catholics began over 700 years ago; however, it was not until 1968 that the entire Bible in Chinese in one volume was published. The author follows this process across the centuries.
Supporting Article
Experiencing World Youth Day as a Chinese Catholic
A young, Chinese woman shares her thoughts and experiences from World Youth Day which she attended in Madrid, in 2011. Included in her account are her reflections on several places her group visited as pilgrims as they journeyed to Madrid. She also shares the life-changing impact this event had for her as she dealt with issues of sin and forgiveness.
Peoples of China
My Experience with Chinese Sisters
Ms. Yang spent two weeks in China on a retreat with religious sisters from the Catholic Church. Many of these Chinese sisters were facing struggles with a variety of issues including the lack of proper formation, community, opportunity for growth, and resources to provide for their educational, personal, and spiritual needs. While not representative of the Catholic Church in its entirety, her experience still provides helpful insights and fuels suggestions for nurturing these sisters.
Book Reviews
Church Militant: Bishop Kung and Catholic Resistance in Communist Shanghai
A Book Review
Paul Mariani makes an essential contribution to the history of the Catholic Church in China during the twentieth-century when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) targeted religious organizations. Through research which includes previously unreleased classified documents and his multifaceted treatment of this turbulent period, he provides a gripping narrative of the gradual, but increasingly tension-filled, showdown between the CCP and the Catholic Church in Shanghai.
View From the Wall
The Catholic Church in China and Evangelization through Social Media
The author begins by sharing his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ then continues by explaining his deep interest in the Catholic Church’s articulation of truth about Christ and the church as well as their relation to society. He looks at the current situation of the Catholic Church in China and concludes with the suggestion that the Internet can be used positively to bring church unity.
Editorials
A Window into Catholicism in Today’s China
An introduction to the 2014 winter issue by the editor of the ChinaSource Quarterly.
Supporting Article
A Place to Grow in Faith:
The Challenge of Developing Sustainable Faith Formation Programs in China
Often missing in China is a regular opportunity for Chinese Catholics to grow in the knowledge of their faith in a structured setting. In recent years, however, there has been a gradual rise of home-grown initiatives and program models adopted from overseas that are starting to change this situation. Nevertheless, challenges remain and the author looks at a number of reasons (beyond the more obvious political challenges) why the deepening of faith has been difficult.