Chinese Rites Controversy

The Chinese Rites Controversy was a debate in the 17th and 18th centuries within the Catholic Church about whether Chinese Christians could continue traditional Confucian rituals and ceremonies, which respected ancestors, without conflicting with Christian teachings. Some church officials argued these rites were pagan practices incompatible with Christianity, while others believed they were cultural customs that could be respected. The controversy affected Chinese converts and the Vatican’s recognition of Chinese Christianity. Ultimately, in 1715, the Pope prohibited these Chinese rites, causing tension between the Church and Chinese believers, and impacting missionary work in China.