Franklin Wolf | Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom | China Aid Advisory Board website
Two Catholic priests from the Baoding Diocese in Hebei Province, China, have reportedly gone missing under unclear circumstances. The Baoding Diocese is one of China's largest underground Catholic groups and has historically been under close scrutiny by the Chinese Communist Party.
According to Catholic Online, Father Chen Hekun was forcibly taken from his home in Zhangjiakou City on April 29. He is believed to be detained in Anxin County, though the reasons for his detention remain unknown. Father Chen, born into a devout Catholic family in Anxin County, has been dedicated to serving the diocese and previously served as dean of the Baoding Diocese seminary.
Father Chen's activities have long attracted government attention. On November 2, 2020, several seminaries in the Baoding Diocese were raided by authorities, resulting in the detention of two priests and more than ten seminarians and nuns. Although Father Chen avoided arrest at that time due to his absence during the raid, he has since been closely monitored by police.
The faithful of Baoding Diocese are requesting prayers for Father Chen's guidance and protection.
Another priest from the same diocese, Father Chi Huitian, lost contact with others on April 17. Police have indicated that he was sent back to his birthplace Xingtai; however, details about his detention are also unclear. His family and friends are actively searching for him and have issued a plea: “We hope that anyone who knows where he is can help us. At the same time, we also ask you to pray for him and ask the Lord to help him.”
In recent years, tensions between underground Catholic groups and government authorities have escalated following a provisional agreement signed on September 22, 2018. This agreement addressed bishop appointments within China's Catholic Church but led to increased pressure on underground clergy to join government-approved institutions like the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
The majority of underground clergy have complied with these pressures; however, some continue to resist joining official church institutions. Bishop Francis An Shuxin currently leads the "official" diocese but is not recognized by many underground priests and believers due to his decision to register with authorities after being under soft detention for ten years starting in 1996.
There have been multiple instances where priests from Baoding Diocese faced restrictions or disappeared due to their refusal to comply with political re-education efforts by authorities.
