A Stitch in Haste

Nobody likes it when a bully picks a fight with a weakling.

But many people love it when a bully picks a fight with another bully:

The Vatican on Thursday excommunicated two bishops ordained by China's state-controlled church without the pope's consent, escalating tensions as the two sides explored preliminary moves toward improving ties.

The Vatican also excommunicated the two bishops who ordained them, citing church law.
...
"The criticism toward the Chinese side by the Vatican is groundless," [a government] statement said. "We hope the Vatican can respect the will of Chinese church and the vast numbers of priests as well as its church members so as to create good atmosphere for the improvement of Sino-Vatican ties."

This is like the Battle of Stalingrad ... or "Alien v. Predator." There's just no basis to favor one combatant over the other — you just want both sides to lose.

Of course, in the final analysis the Vatican is right. Governments can't (or at least shouldn't) seize an organized religion the way they seize homes through eminent domain or dissidents through totalitarianism. Either (a) allow the Roman Catholic Church — with all its countless sins and atrocities — unfettered and unimpeded access into Communist China, or (b) ban the Church outright and let the oppressed Chinese people know that they are in fact oppressed.

Instead we get this absurd and obscene dance of the dictators. Go figure.