We present the interview our friend Massimo Battaglia conducted with Fr. John Song, a Chinese priest who is currently finishing up his theological studies in Germany. His testimony both informs and enlightens us about the difficult situation of Catholics in China and the root causes of the attachment of the Chinese faithful to the traditional liturgy.
Massimo Battaglia – How does one become a priest in China nowadays?
Fr John Song – I would say that being a true priest, i.e. Catholic and holy, is never easy. But in my opinion there is no difference in becoming a priest whether one is Chinese, Italian, or French. Yet it is true that becoming a priest in China presents particular difficulties, especially because of the current religious persecutions in our country. Nevertheless, I remain convinced that the Communist persecutions are less serious for us Catholics than is the widespread confusion within the Catholic Church herself, both because of the renunciation of the authentic Catholic …More