Press Release - September 4, 2005
Contact: Joseph Kung
PO Box 8086, Stamford, CT 06905, U.S.A
Tel: 203-329-9712 Fax: 203-329-8415 E-Mail: jmkung@aol.com
Underground Roman Catholic priest and a recently graduated seminarian arrested in China
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A. --- Underground Roman Catholic priest Father PANG Yongxing 龐永興 and a recently graduated underground seminarian Mr. MA Yongjiang 馬永強 were arrested at approximately 3 PM on Friday, September 2, 2005, by the Security Bureau of Qing Yuan Xian (county) 清苑縣, Hebei 河北. Seven or eight police vans were mobilized for this arrest.
The 32 year old priest, Father PANG, was born in Pang Qu Village 龐家庄of Qing Yuan County清苑縣, Hebei. Cardinal Kung Foundation reported on July 26, 2002 for Fr. PANG's last arrest in 2001 when he was sent to a labor camp for three years. Since his release one year ago, he has been working in an underground church in Qing Yuan County which has approximately 800 underground Catholics.
Mr. MA recently graduated from an underground seminary and has been assisting in Father Pang's parish.
There is no further detail.