Historically in Europe, lay investiture was irrevocably tied to both power and money. But no more. This is simply the Chicoms fear of losing ideological control of the masses. It is a power play born out of fear.
Correct.
All one has to do is consider the Catholic’s problem in the same light as the persecution of the Falan Gong, the Tibetan Buddhists and the Muslims of Xinjiang.
China has no real intention of changing most of what is taught in any Catholic Church, either “patriotic” or traditional — it’s all nonsense to them — but what they can’t stand and won’t tolerate is any organization that has allegiance to anything higher than the state. They feel by co-opting the leaders they can control the message.
The extreme measures they are willing to take to discredit their perceived foes is pretty frightening.
When the Dalai Lama named a six year old boy as the newest Panchen Lama in 1995, Beijing immediately had him arrested and hidden, then forced the senior monks under their thumb to “select” their choice for the job — or else.
The boy selected as Panchen Lama has not been seen or heard from since. Most people think he is dead. I would not be the slightest bit surprised.