Nina Shea criticized the Vatican's China policy, particularly the 2018 provisional agreement, arguing that the Vatican's approach, marked by capitulation and silence on human rights abuses, has allowed the Chinese Communist Party to co-opt and undermine the Catholic Church in China, compromising the pope's authority and diminishing the freedom of China's Catholics. Shea is a senior fellow and director for the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute.
Shea's commentary, titled "Pope Xi," posits that even five years after its signing, the Holy See's 2018 provisional agreement with Beijing has not achieved its objectives. The deal was initially intended to address China's unilateral appointment of Catholic bishops. However, under Pope Francis and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, "after-the-fact blessings" have been given as Beijing chooses its own bishops. "This compromises the 'supreme spiritual authority,' reserved for the Holy Father", said Shea, quoting Pope Benedict XVI.
According to Shea, engaging in dialogue with China is viewed as a response to Communist Party attempts dating back to 1951 when papal nuncio Antonio Riberi was expelled from China. Further straining relations were organizations like the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) in 1957 which demanded independence from Rome. "Vatican officials have been accused of promoting a policy of silence", said Shea pointing out Monsignor Claudio Celli and Father Jeroom Heyndrickx who remained silent despite clear evidence of human rights abuses including those against Jimmy Lai and Uyghur Muslims.
A contentious point within this issue highlighted by Shea is centered around seven formerly "illegitimate" bishops recognized by Rome as part of their 2018 agreement with Beijing. As concerns deepen about both an erosion of Church authority in China due to ongoing unilateral appointments of bishops by Beijing and continued silence over broader human rights issues from Rome, worries over China's growing influence within the Church increase. "This includes CCP propaganda promotion, espionage fears, and compromise of the Church's autonomy," said Shea in her critical evaluation of the Vatican's approach to China.
