Privileged

Having just concluded the holiest week in the Christian faith, we have been to church three times in the past week. And every time, we go through our standard checklist before leaving the house: coloring books and markers – check. Snacks – check. The church address in Chinese – check. Passports – check. Wait, passports? Why? Simply put, it is illegal to attend church in China if you are a Chinese citizen. Now, there are a few exceptions depending on the nationality of your children and spouse, but in general, that is the rule.

Good Friday service, passports in tow, we entered church without a second thought. We marveled at the diverse crowd, watching kids get scolded in at least 10 different languages for not sitting still. As we sat through mass, it was easy to forget where we were. A service like most others. I even found myself humming along with a favorite hymn from my childhood. When it came time for the Prayers of the Faithful, this one really hit home…

“Almighty and eternal God, you know the longings of people’s hearts and you
protect their rights. In your goodness watch over those in authority, so that
people everywhere may enjoy religious freedom, security and peace."

Religious freedom. My mind immediately stopped listening and started trying to digest the actual meaning of those words as I sat inside this immaculate Catholic Church in communist China. Looking down each pew, my thoughts were transformed. I now wondered how many people were “breaking the rules” by being there and how many others wanted to but couldn’t. Glancing down at my purse, I thought of my passport. Not necessarily its blue cover with the American Eagle on the inside, but the rights inherited by one lucky enough to possess it, both home and abroad.

As we walked out of the church into the bustling streets of the high-end downtown neighborhood where the church was located, one word immediately came to mind. Privileged. No matter what we believe, we have the right to think and to openly choose, even here in China. We are truly privileged. But what a shame that it requires a foreign passport to be so.

Happy Easter everyone!