ASIA/CHINA - Study Seminar to improve the collaboration between the Catholic Church and Chinese society

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - To improve the exchange and cooperation between the Catholic Church and Chinese civil society, promoting a vision and a comprehensive evaluation of the development of the Church in contemporary China in order to allow the Church to offer its best contribution to the social, economic and cultural development of the country: was the purpose of the Seminar on "Catholicism in contemporary China" which was held in Beijing on 27 and 28 May, organized by the "Faith Institute for Cultural Studies" in cooperation with the Institute of World Religion Studies of the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, and the Institute of Ethnic Development Study of the Study Centre of Development of the State Council of China.
According to information gathered by Agenzia Fides, this was the first seminar that provided an opportunity to analyze and reflect on the state of Catholicism in China in the last 30 years of the opening of China, and also the first time that priests, religious and Catholics were able to confront each other with academics and members of government agencies on a topical issue like this. The subject was faced from different angles, including the development of the Catholic Church in China, pastoral and evangelization in parishes, evangelization of mass media, formation commitment of seminars, the consecrated life, the charitable work of the Church, the pastoral care of immigrants and foreign students, the new basic ecclesial communities ....
The director of "Faith Institute for Cultural Studies" on presenting an overview on the Church in China retraced the history of the last 30 years, and confirmed the importance of a thorough understanding and mutual exchange. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 02/06/2015)