Saints are an important aspect of Catholicism. The Church believes saints are success stories of life in the faith and honors them as “faith heroes.” Stringent guidelines for canonization include investigating the would-be saints and requires miracles for canonization to be legitimate. Years go by before saints are canonized in a special liturgy at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

This month, the Vatican canonized 120 saints from China – the first in Chinese history. Those venerated included Western missionaries from 1648 as well as many Chinese who died for the faith.

Many were killed at the turn of the century in the height of the anti-West Boxer Rebellion. All had been killed before the Communists took control. Many of the Chinese canonized were examples of Rome’s emphasis on universality. China reacted with anger.

Since the Communists took over China, religious groups have undergone systematic reorganization and persecution to align with the state.

The Roman Catholic Church in China was nationalized in 1951, giving rise to the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Catholic bishops in China are not overseen by Rome, but by the state.

The plight of Tibetan Buddhists is internationally recognized. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, has been exiled since 1959.

Most recently, members of the spiritual movement Falun Gong have been arrested and sent to prison camps for re-education.

The Chinese government does not permit the free practice of internationally-organized faith. For the eight million underground Catholics still faithful to Rome, the canonization gesture was one of solidarity.

Pope John Paul II has made solidarity his trademark throughout his papacy through his role in the downfall of Communism and by visiting developing nations. He has also placed heavy importance on reconciliation by apologizing to Jews for the Vatican’s weak stance during the Holocaust.

Because of the message of hope the canonizations were designed to bring to the underground Roman Catholic community in China, Sino-Vatican relations have frozen. Prior to the canonizations, the Holy Sea and Beijing were close to normalizing relations after a 50-year severance of diplomatic ties.

The Chinese government was extremely offended by the canonizations. The liturgy in St. Peter’s Square took place on China’s National Day, October 1. On the 51st anniversary of the Communist Chinese state, the Vatican canonized 120 people the Chinese government calls traitors.

Government reports labeled the martyrs as criminals and accused them of murder, witchcraft and betrayal. The Chinese martyrs are viewed as people who helped spread Christianity and Western culture, perpetuating the downfall of classical Chinese civilization.

The Catholic bishop who traveled to China a month before the canonizations in Rome reported his concerns. Increasing numbers of Chinese Catholics were being arrested. These new Chinese saints have encouraged China to clamp down harder on internationally-organized religion.

Rather than hope, what if the result of Vatican’s message to Chinese Catholics is one of fear? Imagine practicing an underground faith when international politics make your government more eager to arrest and re-educate you. Imagine knowing diplomatic relations between your nation and your faith have been frozen as a result of the Church’s actions. The role of thinking Catholics in a global church is to welcome and embrace contributions of all people of faith.

The Vatican is not infallible in matters of canonization. The Pope is human, as are the bishops and countless others involved in the process. The eagerness of the Vatican to venerate martyrs of pre-Communist China may be construed as undermining the Chinese government.

The Vatican’s criticism of governments is not bad. However, when the actions of the Vatican spark domestic controversy endangering the safety of Chinese Catholics, it is time for thinking Catholics to meet the actions of the Vatican with discernment.

Only time will tell the outcome of this month’s canonizations. Perhaps hope and solidarity renew the underground Catholic community in China. In all likelihood, religious persecution will increase.

The question that remains for outsiders is whether the Chinese faithful will be subject to martyrdom at the hands of their government. The precedent was set before, just look at the 120 newly-canonized Chinese.