But China has Changed...
It has, in many ways, but no matter what some Western businnessmen may think (I've read people complaining in earnest about 'Those troublemaking NGOs from Hong Kong badmouthing the PRC'), the one thing that hasn't changed is the absolute supremacy of the party.
And so, Monsignor Thaddeus Ma Daqing, the 44-year old auxiliary bishop of Shanghai has been held under house arrest for the last three months, even since he has had the courage ('the gall' according to Beijing) to distance himself in public, during the mass for his ordination, from the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
Bishop Ma, has been living in solitary confinement in the Shanghai seminary, the students have been forced by the governement to return home and, according to news agency Uca News, the bishop's closest helpers are undergoing a 12-hour a day re-education course.
The only remaining link between Bishop Ma and the outside world is his blog , his most recent post is dated 21st of September. Is he still there? If not, where is he?
And so, Monsignor Thaddeus Ma Daqing, the 44-year old auxiliary bishop of Shanghai has been held under house arrest for the last three months, even since he has had the courage ('the gall' according to Beijing) to distance himself in public, during the mass for his ordination, from the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
Bishop Ma, has been living in solitary confinement in the Shanghai seminary, the students have been forced by the governement to return home and, according to news agency Uca News, the bishop's closest helpers are undergoing a 12-hour a day re-education course.
The only remaining link between Bishop Ma and the outside world is his blog , his most recent post is dated 21st of September. Is he still there? If not, where is he?