Earlier this week, Meng Jianzhu, China’s Public Security Minister, and a member of the State Council, visited Lhasa accompanied by military and religious officials, including Ye Xiaowen, the Director of China’s Religious Affairs Bureau. It is the highest-ranking delegation to visit Tibet since the unrest began, and its composition – military and religious affairs officials…
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Sister Fabian’s Crusade
In the life of a journalist, there aren’t too many opportunities to write about an unambiguous good (and believe me, I’m always looking). Which is why I was so pleased when Mother Jones (and my friend and editor, Jennifer Vogel) expressed an interest in the groundbreaking HIV/AIDS home care and prevention program administered by Sister…
Second Sunday Lecture at St. John’s
I’m not sure how many readers I have in Central Minnesota, but if you’re out there, this post is for you – On Sunday, February 10, I’ll deliver this month’s Second Sunday lecture at St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The announced title of my speech is “Catholicism with Shanghai Characteristics: Faith’s Future…
In Memoriam: The Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
Posted on Author AdamPosted in Appreciations and Recommendations, Architecture, Catholicism, Expat Life3 Replies
Via Shanghaiist we learn that the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory is relocating to Anji, in Zhejiang Province due to light pollution. The only surprise in this news is that it didn’t happen sooner: even on clear nights, a person can count on two hands the number of stars bright enough to shine in Shanghai’s heavily illuminated…
A Bishop for Guangzhou – Finally.
This morning the South China Morning Post [subscriber only] reported that Father Joseph Gan Junqiu, the Vatican-approved candidate to become bishop of Guangzhou, has received Chinese government approval and will likely be ordained on December 3. This will be the third ordination of a Chinese bishop since the Pope’s June 30 letter to China’s Catholics…
The Sordid Origins of the Olympic Bible “Ban”
This morning I received an email from my colleague Kenneth Tan, editor of Shanghaiist, asking whether I had heard about the reports that Beijing had added the Bible to a list of items that Olympic athletes were prohibited from bringing to China in 2008. Indeed, I had: I looked into it on Friday – for…
The Pope’s China Letter: Special Vietnam Edition
Recently I’ve received a few emails inquiring into why I haven’t had anything to write about China’s Catholics in recent weeks. My reply is that – in regard to subjects that I’ve covered in the past (the Pope’s letter to China’s Catholics, and the ongoing rapprochement between China’s two churches and between Rome and Beijing),…
Well this should generate some comments.
Calendar spotted in the gift kiosk at a Shanghai Catholic church. The Chinese reads: “Pray for the Olympiad.”
Beijing’s Bishop – One More Final Thought (for now)
Over the last several weeks I’ve sensed an eagerness on the part of the media and the faithful to label each and every feint and gesture between Beijing and the Vatican as having deep and lasting historical significance. To an extent, the recent ordinations in Guiyang and Beijing (both with papal and government approval) are…
Beijing’s Bishop – Final Thoughts (for now)
As of Monday morning, a google search for articles on the ordination of Li Shan brings up more than 200 entries. Not bad for a religion story – in China or elsewhere. In general, I found the coverage to be a vast improvement on past coverage of Chinese Catholic events which – incorrectly – framed…