Chinese bishop meets Clinton

National Catholic Reporter, July 17, 1998

A bishop of China's government-sanctioned Catholic organization was the only religious figure among Shanghai community leaders invited to a discussion with U.S. President Bill Clinton during his nine-day China visit.

Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai said June 30 that he recounted the "big changes in religions" after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) during the 90-minute discussion with Clinton earlier that day.

Jin, 82, said he told Clinton that the church in Shanghai runs a major and a minor seminary, a convent, a publishing house and a press, and sends seminarians abroad to study. Clinton only commented "very good" and did not mention religious freedom during the discussion, said Jin, a former chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

Chinese officials reportedly told underground Bishop Joseph Fan Zhongliang of Shanghai to leave his home during the two days of Clinton's visit to Shanghai. The bishop is allowed to say Mass privately at home, a source said.

In addition, underground Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, in Hebei province, was among people detained by police in the days before Clinton's visit, according to the U.S.-based Cardinal Kung Foundation.