WASHINGTON (December 6, 2005) – In a sharply worded letter to the Chinese
ambassador to the United States, the chairman of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Policy has
called for an investigation into the beatings of 16 Franciscan sisters on
November 23.
“Much of the world, regrettably, has become accustomed to the frequent
suppression of religious practice, especially of Christians, in your
country,” said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando. “However, the news of
the brutal attack on defenseless Catholic nuns on November 23 in the city
of Xian has come as a shock to millions around the world.”
According to news reports of the incident, 30 to 40 Franciscan nuns were
peacefully protesting the demolition of an elementary school when a group
of men attacked them with sticks and clubs. Five nuns required
hospitalization for head, back, and spinal injuries, a dislocated
shoulder, and fractured bones. One was blinded in one eye.
“Mr. Ambassador, this barbaric behavior calls for a thorough investigation
and appropriate sanctions against those responsible,” Bishop Wenski said.
Bishop Wenski went on to chastise the ambassador for the embassy’s failure
even to acknowledge correspondence from his predecessor as chairman on
three previous occasions when he had written regarding other reported
violations of religious liberty in China.
“I do hope that you will communicate our concerns to Beijing and I request
the honor of a reply.”
The full text of Bishop Wenski’s letter, dated December 5, follows:
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
Much of the world, regrettably, has become accustomed to the frequent
suppression of religious practice, especially of Christians, in your
country. The periodic arrest and detention of bishops, priests, religious
and lay leaders of the Catholic Church has become almost routine in
certain regions, notably in dioceses in Hebei Province.
However, the news of the brutal attack on defenseless Catholic nuns on
November 23 in the city of Xian has come as a shock to millions around the
world. These Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart were
seeking peacefully to prevent the destruction of their former school by
occupying the premises when a group of some forty men, allegedly sent by
the district education office, proceeded to attack the nuns. Sixteen of
them were severely beaten with sticks and clubs and five of them still
remain hospitalized.
One of the sisters was expected to undergo spinal cord surgery today and
risks permanent paralysis. Another has lost the sight of one eye. Others
sustained severe injuries to the head, back and extremities, with one
sister suffering a fractured arm and another a dislocated shoulder.
Mr. Ambassador, this barbaric behavior calls for a thorough investigation
and appropriate sanctions against those responsible. Government offers to
pay for part of the hospital expenses incurred is implicit acknowledgement
of official involvement in the attack and is a thoroughly inadequate
response.
My predecessor as Chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Policy,
Bishop John Ricard, wrote to you three times over the past two years
without receiving a response from your Embassy. I do hope that you will
communicate our concerns to Beijing and I request the honor of a reply.
With sincere thanks for whatever you can do on this, I remain
Sincerely,
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Bishop of Orlando
Chairman
Committee on International Policy