Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Fides Service) - People will not have to pay to enter Nan Tang Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Beijing for Christmas Mass. The parish priest said there had been a misunderstanding and that recent media allegations that Catholics would be asked to fill in an identity form and make a minimum offering of 50 Yuan about 5 Euro to attend Christmas Eve Mass in the Cathedral were quite unfounded. The sum of 5 Euro is no small amount for students and old people.
After Mass yesterday Father Ren Li Jun explained: “People will be free to make any offering during the Christmas Mass collection. Tickets will be available but they are free of charge and serve only for security reasons and to avoid overcrowding. As usual in recent years, in the interval between the two Masses, guided tours of the Cathedral will be available for non Christian visitors”.
For some time now there were rumours in the Catholic community that a fixed sum would be requested to take part in the Christmas Mass. The sum of 50 Yuan is about one 6th of an average wage, what is more important people saw this measure as sacrilege. Catholics were deeply troubled: “What will this show to non Christians?”, they asked knowing the many non Catholics come to the Cathedral for Christmas Mass.
The offering, the parish priest explained, was a call on the faithful to support their local Church following new administration rules which establish that parishes in Beijing must find their own resources, whereas until now they received diocesan funds and a small government grant.
(Agenzia Fides 15/12/2004 Righe: 24 Parole: 276)
