Monsignor Thomas Pai of the Hsinchu diocese, which is especially note-worthy for its social work, points out that the occupation of mainland China by the Communists was an important stimulus to the Catholic Church in Taiwan. Believing that religion is "the opiate of the masses," the Communists widely suppressed religious activity; and as they were very nationalistic, religions of foreign origin were especially targeted.
以社會工作為主要特色的新竹天主教區副主教白正龍指出，時當中國大陸為中共佔據，兩岸分裂，中共政權卻信仰馬列主義的無神論，認為一切宗教都是人民的「精神鴉片」，以及民族主義情結作祟，展開大規模地宗教鎮壓。