ASIA/CHINA - “It is a shame to see that here in Europe, there are people who are doing all they can to remove crosses from schools and public places, while we are struggling to promote Catholic and religious teaching in society.” A reflection from Fr. Peter Zhao, Vicar of Beijing

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “It is a shame to see that here in Europe, there are people who are doing all they can to remove crosses from schools and public places, while we are struggling to promote Catholic and religious teaching in society.” This is the observation made by Fr. Peter Zhao Jian Min, Director of the Beijing Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture and Vicar of the Diocese of Beijing, which he expressed in the courses he gave during “Onclin Week” at the “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,” February 23-28 in Louvain, Belgium. This is the first time ever that a Chinese priest has given classes in a European university.
“Onclin Week” is an annual event held at the “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,” in memory of Monsignor G. Onclin, former Dean of the Department of Canon Law at the university and Secretary of the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law in 1983. Upon the invitation of canonist Prof. Rik Torfs, current Dean and Professor of the Department of Canon Law, Fr. Peter Zhao (who earned his doctorate from at Louvain) presented 4 lectures on the following themes: The Preaching by Chinese Laity in the Chinese Churches; Church Media and Publication in present China; The Catholic Education for Lay Catholics in present China; Catechetical Instruction in Chinese Church, past and present.
The Beijing Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture began on August 3, 2002 and is a site of encounter for intellectuals and academics, Catholics and non alike, to discuss themes of Christianity and culture. It is a very active entity, which maintains contact and collaborates with other religious institutes on an international level, universities, research foundations, and foreign academic associations. Each year, they organize encounters for academic dialogue and they publish the Journal of Catholic Studies. Last year, they organized a Forum on Catholic Studies for Young Chinese Scholars, which was a great success. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2009)