Frans Schraven

Frans Schraven (13 October 1873 - 9 October 1937) was a Dutch Catholic Bishop who acted as missionary in China. He died in Zhengding, Hebei, China at his attempt to protect the local population during the Sino-Japanese war.

Early life

Schraven was born in Lottum in the Limburg region of the Netherlands. He was educated at the Episcopal College in Roermond and was ordained priest in Paris in May 1899. The same year of his ordination he followed his calling as missionary in China.

On 10 April 1921 he was made Bishop in the city of Zhengding.

Death

The Second Sino-Japanese war broke out in September 1931. As the Imperial Japanese troops progressed through Eastern China, they reached Zhengding as part of the full scale invasion in 1937. Around 5,000 local residents, including 200 young women, sought refuge from the Catholic priests from the advancing army. It is thought that the young women were at risk of being taken away of comfort women for the soldiers.

Schraven resisted the Japanese troops. He and his fellow 8 priests were subsequently kidnapped and burned alive.

Legacy

In 2013, Frans Wiertz, Bishop of Roermond, initiated proceeding for the beatification of Frans Schraven for his martyrdom. Document have been passed to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in 2014 as part of the process. There have been calls for the canonisation of Schraven as the patron saint for sex abuse victims.