Children, taxi drivers, and even grannies who have been working to learn English six years ahead the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 have been joined by the country's clergy.
Some members of the clergy, nuns and seminary students are not only learning English, but also Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, said Michael Fu Tieshan, the bishop of Beijing Diocese.
In fact, all religious groups are encouraged to learn foreign languages in preparation for the Games. A group of returned Catholics, Christians and Muslims, who had studied abroad, are ready to conduct services in foreign languages. “By then, Chinese churches will provide foreign officials, coaches, athletes and audience with religious services in different languages,” said Fu, who is also chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
Beijing has been trying to make religious services available to foreigners while developing itself into an international metropolis. “We have received a growing number of foreign Catholics who celebrate mass in our church,” said Feng Guoxin, priest of the North Church, the biggest Catholic church in the capital. Feng said his church celebrates mass in English every week.
(eastday.com August 9, 2002)
