After more than half a century of hostility, China and the Roman Catholic Church have inched within reach of normal relations, a historic shift aimed at improving the lives of 10 million Chinese who regularly practice the faith, according to leaders and analysts on both sides of the divide.
Of course, it comes with a price:
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong, the senior Roman Catholic cleric in China, said the Vatican's readiness to drop ties with Taiwan represents a major gain for the Chinese government and is the main motive for Beijing's decision to soften hostility toward the church.
Also interesting:
Hopes rose for swift improvement in China-Vatican relations a year ago after the death of Pope John Paul II and the ascension of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Because of his association with the anti-communist movement in his native Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, John Paul was particularly distrusted in Beijing. In addition, he outraged Chinese leaders in 2000 by canonizing 120 Chinese saints on Oct. 1, the Chinese national day celebrated to mark the advent of communist rule in Beijing. Earlier contacts were frozen after that incident.
If the Church starts making major strides in China, the Commies will just squelch it again. Yeah, there are a lot of variables, but suffice it to say, I simply don't think there's much to get excited about.
