Christian Heroism

The Chinese Communists do their best to suppress stories of Christian heroism inside China. They do not always succeed. The latest to reach the outside world is that of the Rev. John Tung, 45, a Roman Catholic priest.

With other Chinese Catholics, Father Tung was herded on to the platform at a "protest" rally in Chungking last June. He was supposed to join in a public attack on the papal internuncio, Archbishop Anthony Riberi (since expelled from China--TIME, Sept. 17). Father Tung's conscience dictated a very different speech. Said he:

"I am today required to attack the representative of the Holy Father. Tomorrow, perhaps, I shall be forced to attack the Holy Father, the representative of Jesus Christ. The following day, why will I not be constrained to attack God Himself?

"If I stifle my conscience, turn from God, apostatize from the church and give lip service to the state, what kind of a clever charlatan have I become? ... A Catholic who does not dare to give his life for God will be liable to betray his country. The Communists do not fear harsh words and death. Why should we?"

The thunderstruck local Communists let him finish. It was a month before the police came to arrest him. Since then, nothing has been heard of Father Tung.

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