Appeal to authorities for Chinese New Year: release of three bishops and of six priests who have disappeared

I hope other bloggers will pick this up and share it with their own readers.

Perhaps after reading this you could stop for a moment and say a Memorare for the missing priests and bishops as well as for the softening of the hearts of the authorities who have them (hopefully alive) in custody.

From AsiaNews:

Appeal: Bishops and priests disappeared or in prison, home for the Chinese New Year
by Bernardo Cervellera

During the Year of the Dragon, AsiaNews asks President Hu Jintao and ambassador Ding Wei for the release of three bishops and six Chinese priests who have disappeared in police custody or are in forced labour camps.

Rome (AsiaNews) – In a letter to President Hu Jintao and the Chinese ambassador in Italy, AsiaNews has decided to ask for the release of three bishops and of six priests who have disappeared in police custody or are detained in prison without trial. Their release could be a gesture of friendship and hope for Catholics and human rights activists, as well as a sign of true hope for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

In just a few days, on January 23, the world of the Far East celebrates the Lunar New Year: we will enter the Year of the Dragon, a very positive year that promises many fruits. In China, hundreds of millions of people will travel to join their families: the dawn of the New Year is always celebrated by strengthening the bonds of family and friendships which help to face the future with an even more positive outlook.

For this reason, we ask that for these three bishops and six priests to be restored to their families and their communities.

They were never charged with any crime; given the opportunity of a trial or convicted by a court. And yet they have been interred in forced labour camps or were seized by the police of a country that is a member of the UN Security Council and that has signed the Charter of Human Rights.

[…]

Read the rest there.