Taipei (Fides Service) – On sale at book shops and newspaper stalls all over the city New year crowds in Taiwan will find the very first issue of a new Catholic publication Renlai, or “Flute of Humanity”, the Island’s first Chinese language Catholic magazine. The new review is published by the Ricci Cultural Enterprise publishers of the Matteo Ricci Study Centre run by the Jesuit Fathers
“The magazine will express opinions and aim to foster cultural and social debate at all levels of society. In the coming months we will focus on themes such as urban planning, genetically modified food, cloning, mental illness, the role of television... subjects which will raise questions and reveal different points of view in the Chinese world” writes editor Father Jacques Duraud SJ who will be assisted by Father Benoit Vermander and Ms Claire Shen Hsiu-chen.
The monthly publication intends to offer young people an opportunity to voice their opinions and air their ideas. Each issue will focus on one main subject mainly from the cultural point of view. It will comprise an editorial, comments, interviews, articles on literature and cinema and its collaborators will be from Taiwan, but also mainland China and Chinese communities overseas. Renlai will work closely with other Jesuit publications including the popular Jesuit French review Etudes.
Taiwan’s Catholics are enthusiastic and satisfied. Civil authorities and leading members of other religions sent messages of appreciation to the publishers. (PA) (Fides Service 23/1/2004 lines 30 words 304)