Nebraska Panhandle News

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts criticized the Vatican for renewing a deal with China that permits the Chinese government to appoint Roman Catholic bishops. The agreement, originally signed in 2018 and recently extended for four more years, is generating concern about China's influence over Catholic Church operations.

Ricketts contends, "Right now, our adversaries are hard at work to expand their influence in every region. The Holy See is no exception," expressing unrest over the Vatican's cooperation with China. He stated that the decision sets a concerning precedent for diplomatic relations with an adversarial nation. "Xi Jinping has given the green light to construct state-approved, state-controlled Catholic churches," Ricketts continued, noting the deal's potential global implications for Catholics.

The sentiments emerged during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, which reviewed the nominations of Brian Burch as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Nicole McGraw to Croatia, and Brandon Judd to Chile. During this session, Burch acknowledged the sensitive nature of the Vatican's relationship with China, emphasizing the need for the Holy See to exert pressure on China regarding human rights abuses, particularly concerning the persecution of religious minorities, including Catholics.

Burch said, "The relationship between the Holy See and China is of immense importance to the United States," emphasizing the need to resist foreign governments' roles in religious leadership appointments. He also highlighted the Vatican's diplomatic relations with Taiwan as a critical factor in counterbalancing China's global influence.

Further discussions at the hearing centered on the Catholic Church's role in global aid. Ricketts praised the efficiency of Catholic Relief Services and Caritas, stating that their aid does not involve politically sensitive matters but focuses on life-saving services. Burch supported these observations, adding that the Church can be one of the United States' best partners in providing humanitarian aid globally.

Senator Ricketts concluded the session by aligning the Catholic Church's interests with those of the U.S., stating, "It would seem that the Catholic Church’s interest in providing aid aligns more with the types of aid of this administration with regard to those life-saving services."

The Vatican's actions continue to be closely monitored by U.S. authorities concerned about potential repercussions on international religious freedoms and diplomatic relations.