A Chinese Cardinal and Freedom of Religion in America

Cardinal Kung 1949

He spent more time in prison for political crimes against the State than Nelson Mandela, but you probably never heard of him. The reason for that is because his crime was being a Christian; never popular among the Elites.

His name is Ignatius Cardinal Kung Pin Mei. Born in 1901 and died in 2000. Thirty of those years he spent in prison because he was a Christian, and defied the State, refusing to renounce his faith. The Chinese government showed a little more restraint than barbaric fascist Islamic states that just murder people who refuse to renounce their faith.

Father Kung was consecrated Bishop on October 7, 1949, the year the Communists took power, making him Bishop of Soochow.    In 1950 he became Bishop of Shanghai and apostolic administrator of Soochow and Nanking. By 1955 he became such an enemy of the State, he was arrested.  A few months later he was taken to an arena, a dog racing stadium, and shackled he was led to the microphone.  The purpose was to confess his crime (being a Christian), but instead he said, “Long live Christ the King! Long live the Pope!”, and the audience responded, “Long live Christ the King! Long live Bishop Kung!”

He spent the next 30 years in prison, mostly in solitary confinement, and was released in 1985 to house arrest.  That part of the sentence was 10 years, but he was released after two and a half years.

From a sermon he gave in 1991:

“In America, you have freedom of expression and true freedom to worship. You honor justice and human rights. This is a nation of God. Standing with you here today, my heart is with my people in China who still do not have the freedom to worship.

… It is my sincere wish that, through the continuous leadership from the Government of the United States to help and influence the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, my people and my country will one day also enjoy the same true freedom of religion, expression, the human rights and justice in accordance with international standards.”

This is why I bring this brave man of faith and conviction up. The freedom of expression and to worship is being slowly eroded in this country. We Christians are demeaned and insulted in the Jurassic Press and by many current government officials. A blind eye is turned to the suffering, persecution, torture and murder of Christians worldwide. Our secular government is silent when Islamic states violently oppress Christians.

In this country the government uses the ACLU and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State to repress religious freedom, at least Christians'. Our secular government and these two organizations do support the freedom of religious expression of Islamofacists, which, given the Statist predilections of our elites, is no surprise.

Cardinal Kung shortly before his death.

There’s a cautionary tale here.  One doesn’t want to accept the fact of the slow taking away of liberty, and especially of the right to practice one’s religion. What Leftists practice is “Fabianism”, which is a slow, premeditated taking over of freedom until everyone is a slave to the State.  As is shown time and again, especially in the 20^th century, to close the deal on tyranny, Jews and Christians must be first marginalized, isolated, and then imprisoned.

Look around and see what the elites in this country, Jurassic Press and Leftists in government, say about Christians (example is what is said about Palin and Christine O’Donnell and their faith) without challenge, and how they ignore the persecution and murder of Christians world wide.

Can’t happen here?