The Church in China today belongs to the Chinese faithful

Interview with Fr. Francisco Carin, East Asia 

The conclusion of the 175th Claretian Jubilee Year festivities in the East Asia area was marked with a closing Mass held at the Church of St. Lawrence in Macau on July 27. Bishop Stephen Lee of the Diocese of Macau presided over the Jubilee Mass, with Claretian Bishop Josep Maria Abella of the Diocese of Fukuoka, Japan and 25 other priests, including Father Francisco Carin, CMF., the superior of the Claretian Missionaries' Delegation in East Asia, concelebrating.

While talking to O Clarim, the Catholic Weekly of the Diocese of Macau, Father Carin deliberated on the Claretian vision for the Mission in China, its contributions and challenges. 

In response to a question about the lack of missionaries working in the vast East Asia region, Father Carin stated, “My position is very similar to that of Lei Ming Yuan: China is for the Chinese. I believe that the primary driving force for spreading the Christian faith in China should come from the Chinese Church and the Chinese people.” 

Belgian priest Lei Ming arrived in China in March 1901 and actively followed Venerable Matteo Ricci's cultural adaptation strategy, choosing to live like a Chinese. Due to his deep affection for China, he directly contributed to the localization of Catholicism in China and dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel there. In his own words, "Pay no attention to my eyes, pay no attention to my nose; look at my heart. It's a genuine Chinese heart!”

Father Carin stated that Macau was selected as the location for the concluding ceremony of the Jubilee year in East Asia due to its status as the first modern diocese in the region. He noted that Macau played a significant role in the birth and development of many dioceses in East Asia, including some in China. Highlighting the growing openness of the Church, Father Carin expressed hope for a more regular presence of the Church in China, thanks in part to Pope Francis and the agreement between the Holy See and Chinese authorities.

Recognising the contribution of the Pastoral Bible Foundation to the missionary initiatives of the Claretians in the area, Father Carin expressed, "The Pastoral Bible Foundation has been a blessing for us, the Claretian Missionaries of the East Asia Delegation. From the very beginning, the Foundation embraced the task of producing various versions of the Christian Bible. Father Alberto Rossa undertook the endeavour of translating the Bible into Chinese." 

“It was quite a challenging task, contrary to expectations,” says Father Carin. “We already have a very good translation. Deciding whether or not to create a new translation when we have a translation that has been used for so many years was a real challenge. This was largely due to the need for involvement and cooperation from numerous individuals within mainland China. The Chinese-speaking world encompasses diverse regions, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China. The way people communicate and express themselves today varies from region to region. In my opinion, the Pastoral Bible Foundation has aimed to incorporate more expressions and speech patterns familiar to people into their Bible translations. 

“I noticed that many individuals engage with the Bible, which is positive, but at the same time, the Chinese language used in the Bible may not align precisely with their everyday spoken Chinese. The "Chinese" Bible as presented by the Pastoral Bible Foundation, along with publications like the "Daily Gospel" and other Gospel and Bible-related projects, has opened for us the door for engaging in dialogue with the Chinese people. Dialogue is crucial, as is connecting with those dedicated to sharing the Gospel with others.”

Looking back on his 30 years of experience with the Church in Taiwan, Father Carin believes that there was substantial growth in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, followed by a period of stagnation in the 1990s. He now sees it as an increasingly mature Church with a focus on religious dialogue and the evangelisation of adults. While acknowledging previous growth through conversions, particularly linked to the expansion of Catholic families through Baptism, he currently perceives it as a vibrant Church. 

“I remember when a group of students from China were preparing to attend the Fu Ren University. I recall that, during that period, some people, including some of the Bishops, were hesitant to permit those seminarians to engage in any ministry. I wrote a brief magazine piece arguing that if Taiwan could contribute one thing to the Church on the mainland, it would be a university. Not a prestigious institution like Harvard or a large seminary, but one that could preach the Gospel. Our focus isn't just on forming a community and spreading the Gospel to people. It's also about allowing priests, nuns, and seminarians to study something useful, such as how to bring the Gospel to society in a less restricted manner.” 

In Taiwan, as they speak Mandarin, it's another opportunity for missionaries to practice. The Church in Taiwan "speaks" English, French, and Spanish, but it is, above all, a Church that offers the experience of sharing the Gospel in the local language. 

In response to a question about the lack of missionaries working in the vast East Asia region, Father Carin stated, “My position is very similar to that of Lei Ming Yuan: China is for the Chinese. I believe that the primary driving force for spreading the Christian faith in China should come from the Chinese Church and the Chinese people.” 

Father Carin further explained, “Previously, missionary work in China was allocated among different congregations: this area is mine, that one is yours. This situation no longer exists, and ever since the Second Vatican Council, the plan has been very clear: the bishop leads the diocese, and the religious congregations are invited by the bishop to assist the dioceses as needed to spread the Gospel to the people.” 

Father Carin believes that the Church has evolved significantly. He expresses confidence that the Chinese government will recognise that the Church is very different from what it was in the 1940s and 1930s when foreign congregations sometimes exerted significant influence. Today, the Church in China belongs to the Chinese believers and the local ecclesiastical hierarchy. Missionaries are simply helpers who hope to contribute with what they can offer.