Abstract
This paper examines the commonly held perception that two Catholic Churches exist in China. Drawing from the perspective of a native Chinese Catholic, it argues that the reality is not the existence of two distinct Churches but rather two historically divided Catholic communities. The study traces the origins, development, and evolution of this division over the past decades, noting that the separation was not originally intended by ecclesial authorities and was later shaped by the policies of the Chinese communist government. While considering the broader social and political context of China, the paper primarily seeks to present a clearer public understanding of the Catholic Church in China as culturally distinct yet fully belonging to the universal Catholic Church.
Recommended Citation
Liu, Gabriel
(2023)
"Divided Yet One: The Two Catholic Communities in China,"
Loyola Papers: Vol. 4:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/loyola/vol4/iss1/4