Do Catholics Care about Persecuted Christians?

As American bishops dedicate this week to religious freedom, including for Muslims in China, polls suggest a cresting of support for the church in need.

For the first time, American legislation in defense of international religious freedom has reached into the Chinese Politburo.

Last week, President Donald Trump signed into law a bill to authorize sanctions against top officials responsible for ongoing persecution against China’s Muslim Uighur minority.

Passed by Congress with only one “no” vote, the action follows on the heels of this month’s release of the 2019 State Department Report on International Religious Freedom (IRF).

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lauded the United States’s commitment.

“America is not a perfect nation by any means, we always strive towards that more perfect union, trying to improve,” he said.

“[But] there is no other nation that cares so deeply about religious freedom.”

Such commitment was marked this week by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Each day from June 22–29 highlights an issue of concern, whether domestic or international.

Yesterday (June 24) the focus was on China.

Last summer, the government-affiliated Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association—representing 6 million of China’s estimated 12 million Catholics—condemned the US criticism. The State Department’s second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom had advocated for the 800,000 to 2 million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities who have been arbitrarily detained in internment camps.

But one month later, the Chinese government permitted the first consecration of a Vatican-ordained bishop. Pope Francis had signed a deal with Chinese authorities to unite Rome with the underground Catholic church in 2018.

The US bipartisan consensus evident in the Uighur law reflects Pompeo’s assertion. First ...