[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 804 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 804

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         June 12, 2006.
Whereas the Catholic Patriotic Association of China is a government-sanctioned 
        organization that does not represent the majority of Chinese Catholics, 
        and has been used by the Government of the People's Republic of China to 
        oppress Catholics who choose to remain loyal to the Pope as their 
        spiritual leader;
Whereas on April 30, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic 
        Association of China conducted an unauthorized episcopal ordination of 
        the priest Joseph Ma Yinglin, elevating him to the office of bishop 
        without the approval and against the wishes of the Holy Father Pope 
        Benedict XVI;
Whereas on May 3, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic 
        Association of China conducted an unauthorized episcopal ordination of 
        the priest Joseph Liu Xinhong, elevating him to the office of bishop 
        without the approval and against the wishes of the Holy Father Pope 
        Benedict XVI;
Whereas on May 14, 2006, the Chinese Government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic 
        Association of China installed Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu as Bishop of 
        Mindong Diocese without the approval and against the wishes of the Holy 
        Father Pope Benedict XVI;
Whereas according to information reported by the Vatican, bishops and priests in 
        the People's Republic of China have been subjected to strong pressures 
        and threats to take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being 
        without pontifical mandate, are illicit and, besides, contrary to their 
        conscience;
Whereas the entire world follows with attention the progress of religious 
        freedom in China and had hoped that such deplorable episodes by now 
        would belong to the past;
Whereas following a trip to China in August 2005, the United States Commission 
        on International Religious Freedom reported that the Chinese Government 
        continues to systematically violate the right to freedom of thought, 
        conscience, and religion or belief, contravening both the Chinese 
        Constitution and international human rights norms;
Whereas on May 3, 2006, the United States Commission on International Religious 
        Freedom announced its 2006 recommendations to Secretary of State 
        Condoleezza Rice and continued to identify China as one of ten 
        ``Countries of Particular Concern'';
Whereas Chinese law and policy restrict religious activities to those activities 
        associated with the five officially-sanctioned ``patriotic'' religious 
        organizations;
Whereas all other collective religious activities in China are illegal, and 
        individuals from ``unregistered'' religious groups are subject to 
        harassment, detention, and arrest;
Whereas freedom of religious expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the 
        United States Constitution and recognized by all civilized nations; and
Whereas China, like all members of the United Nations, is bound by Article 18 of 
        the Uniform Declaration of Human Rights which states: ``Everyone has the 
        right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right 
        includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either 
        alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest 
        his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the 
        Government of the People's Republic of China to coerce Catholic bishops 
        in China, both those in the Catholic Patriotic Association of China and 
        those who remain loyal to the Pope, to violate their consciences and 
        consecrate bishops in defiance of Rome;
            (2) extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Catholic 
        population of China and the Catholic Church for this insult to their 
        beliefs and religious practices;
            (3) reaffirms the right of all religious organizations to choose 
        their leaders in a manner that is free of intimidation, terror, or 
        coercion in accordance with Article 18 of the Uniform Declaration of 
        Human Rights;
            (4) urges the Government of China to end its repression of religious 
        organizations, recognize the ecclesiastical authority of religious 
        leaders to provide spiritual leadership to their followers, and end the 
        practice of only allowing religious worship through state-sanctioned 
        patriotic religious associations; and
            (5) encourages the Government of China to refrain from additional 
        ordination of Catholic bishops while the Vatican and the Catholic 
        Patriotic Association of China resolve their differences and adopt a 
        mutually acceptable process for approving the elevation of bishops.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.