Made in China?
Most of our products are printed right here in Cincinnati… but now and then, we cannot find a local supplier, or if we do, the price is so extravagant, we cannot afford it, and so we are forced to make a decision. Forget the product, or find someone who can manufacture it affordably. As a result, a few of our items, such as our gift bags, deluxe greeting cards and holy cards, are presently printed in China.
This brings us to a highly controversial subject. Are we selling out? Are we choosing profit over morality? Some of you think so, and so it seems time to address this openly.
Because the Chinese government does not share our Christian values, and has not embraced those who practice the Catholic Faith, but has instead often persecuted those who do, it seems the common mindset amongst many dedicated Catholics to retaliate in like manner. Punish them by taking away our business, much like taking sweets or toys from a child when they are naughty. Yes? Shape up and we’ll give them back or else.(By the way, in working with the Chinese, I will tell you it has been my experience that they are amongst the most beautiful souls I have had the privilege to work with. Diligent, conscientious, hard working... they usually put me to shame with their kindness! So please remember they are individual souls just as we are... and like us, are often in disagreement with corrupt government.)
Perhaps if we were manufacturing refrigerators, I would give this concept more consideration, though I doubt it. If we are to do business only with the righteous, all business would quickly cease! (Does America not allow the murder of her own children? Aren’t our unions liberal organizations that mostly support anti-Catholic principles? Don’t they support such extraordinarily high wages; the products they produce are unaffordable to the small business owner? I ask you, how is it I am especially virtuous when I keep my business in the US? I am patriotic and keeping the money home for my neighbor? How is this Catholic? If any of you have traveled to a third world country, you would quickly see that the poorest American is a wealthy person by the standards of most, and where is the virtue in supporting the wealthy? In many of these countries, what we spend on entertainment in a day would feed their family for a month! But I have gotten sidetracked…)
In our particular case, the sweet we would be withdrawing from the Chinese is our Catholic Faith. Our products are a catechism lesson in and of themselves. What better way to introduce Our Heavenly Father and Mother, and their concepts of Christian love and mercy? To be quite honest with you, we discovered our cards could be printed for a reasonable price either by Italy or China, yet after prayer and discussion with good priests, we chose China, even though I knew we would likely lose the business of many of you. Why? Because in Italy our cards would only be preaching to the choir, but in China, they might introduce a soul to Our Heavenly Family for the first time. This may sound amazing to you, but in the process of having these items produced, I have had discussions with the manufacturers about our “gods and goddesses” and have made friendships with some who wonder at why there is a certain “sunshine” in our business they have not experienced elsewhere… Every garden starts with the planting of one seed…
To put it in a nutshell, I guess in China I see pre-Christian Rome. I see a flock of sheep wandering the hills in search of their shepherd. I see Peter and Paul walking the streets of China as in Rome during those first days. They did not flee their enemy, their persecutor, they did not boycott them. Rather they went to her with open arms, as Christ taught them to do upon the Cross. They did not advise all early Christians to flee from their persecutors as from the devil. Instead, they were encouraged to “preach the gospel to all nations” to mingle amongst all souls that God had created, not as superior beings, which is the pharisaical approach, but with the love of Christ who shed His Most Precious Blood for us all. To allow all people to see this religion of love in action, and be drawn to it as bees to honey. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.” Though the early Christians were put to death by them, their love for their persecutor transformed their enemy, so that now Rome is the center of our Holy Faith! Glory be to God! May He be so glorified by the beautiful souls in China, our brothers and sisters in Christ. They only await our prayers and the love of Christ to shine through us to prepare the way.
I was greatly touched when I saw our Pope's recent letter to the Chinese, which echoed what I have heard within my own heart:
A day of prayer for the Church in China
19. Dear Pastors and all the faithful, the date 24 May could in the future become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China. This day is dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.
I would like that date to be kept by you as a day of prayer for the Church in China. I encourage you to celebrate it by renewing your communion of faith in Jesus our Lord and of faithfulness to the Pope, and by praying that the unity among you may become ever deeper and more visible. I remind you, moreover, of the commandment that Jesus gave us, to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, as well as the invitation of the Apostle Saint Paul: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:1-4).
On that same day, the Catholics of the whole world – in particular those who are of Chinese origin – will demonstrate their fraternal solidarity and solicitude for you, asking the Lord of history for the gift of perseverance in witness, in the certainty that your sufferings past and present for the Holy Name of Jesus and your intrepid loyalty to his Vicar on earth will be rewarded, even if at times everything can seem a failure.
To read the Holy Father’s letter in its entirety, please click on this link:
Pope's Letter to the Church in China
Finally, in the event you remain unconvinced, may Our Lord’s own words touch you:
“You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43
Thank you for listening.
May God Bless You.
Kathy Holbrook