[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 22, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E377-E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN APPRECIATION OF CARDINAL IGNATIUS KUNG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2000

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of Cardinal 
Ignatius Kung, who died on March 12 at the age of 98. Cardinal Kung was 
the Roman Catholic bishop of Shanghai, China, and he was proclaimed a 
Cardinal by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1991.

[[Page E378]]

  Cardinal Kung was the first native born Chinese Bishop of Shanghai. 
Cardinal Kung was a genuine man of faith, possessing deep conviction 
and a vital moral character--attributes that enabled him to endure some 
30 years in prison. He was a man who inspired millions of faithful in 
China and throughout the world.
  After his arrest by the Chinese Communist Government in 1955, 
Cardinal Kung was forced onto a stage before thousands of people and 
was pushed forward to a microphone to publicly confess for his supposed 
``crimes''. Dressed only in pajamas and with his arms tied behind his 
back, the Cardinal defied Beijing saying instead, ``Long live Christ 
the King; Long live the Pope!'' The Chinese police quickly dragged him 
away and Cardinal Kung was not heard of until he was brought to trial 
in 1960.
  Throughout his leadership, Cardinal Kung refused to compromise or 
cooperate with the Communist Chinese Government. The night before his 
public trial, the Cardinal rebuffed the chief prosecutor's attempts to 
have him lead the government-backed Chinese Catholic Patriotic 
Association. The next day, Cardinal Kung was sentenced to life in 
prison.
  The Cardinal spent the next 30 years behind bars, spending much of 
that time in isolation. He was not permitted to receive visitors, 
including his relatives, or receive letters or money to buy essential 
items--rights which other prisoners usually received.
  After intense international pressure, in 1985 the Chinese Government 
released Cardinal Kung to serve another term of 10 years under house 
arrest. After 2\1/2\ years under house arrest, he was officially 
released.
  He spent most of the rest of his life in the United States receiving 
medical treatment and in 1998, the Chinese Government confiscated the 
passport of this elderly man.
  Cardinal Kung will be remembered as a hero to millions of faithful 
Chinese for his determination against the Chinese Government that 
refused to allow him and millions to freely worship.
  Cardinal Kung stands out as one of the great religious figures in the 
20th century--a standard-bearer and a vigilant witness for those who 
have been persecuted during the reign of the communists in China.

                          ____________________