Celebrated Chinese Bishop dies at the age of 90 after Life of Faith and Persecution
ICC NOTE: Chinese Catholics mourn the death of Bishop Thomas Zhang Huaixin who died at the age of 90. Bishop Thomas had been an ordained priest/minister since 1950 as he experienced persecution for his faith nearly his entire life, especially during the Cultural Revolution. He never agreed to join the government sanctioned Catholic association maintaining his allegiance to the church and to God. The life of Bishop Thomas was one to emulate and recognize according to his fellow leaders and parishioners always considering the less fortunate and working diligently to expand God’s kingdom.
5/13/2016 China (BosNewsLife) – Christians in China are preparing for the funeral of Catholic Bishop Thomas Zhang Huaixin who died at age 90 after a turbulent life that included decades of persecution for his devoted faith in Christ and rejection of government control over church affairs.
Bishop Zhang Huaixin of Anyang eventually accepted government recognition in 2004 after receiving assurances that he would not be forced to join the state-backed Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
Zhang Huaixin made clear that he did not want to join the Association as it was set up by the Communist government to supervise Chinese Catholics. The Vatican has also condemned the organization.
Bishop Zhang was born on May 23, 1925 and ordained in 1950. He was deemed a “rightist” by the government in 1958 and suffered for his faith during the political turmoil that lasted for decades until 1978, according to several sources.
He also spent six years in China’s notorious labour camps.
SECRET BISHOP
After his rehabilitation in 1980, Zhang Huaixin was secretly ordained bishop of Anyang the following year and lived and worked without government recognition. As an elderly, recognized bishop, he remained a role model for Catholics, his supporters say.
“I was most impressed by his teaching on money and women,” Priest Li Jisheng of Anyang said in published remarks. “He used to remind us clergy that there will be no problem with our clerical life as long as the ledger is clear, having little desire on wealth, and keeping a distance from women.”