China and the Vatican relations thaw again
-11/05/06
Following a tense political showdo
China and the Vatican relations thaw again
-11/05/06
Following a tense political showdown last week, the Vatican has approved the episcopal ordination of a US-educated priest in China, Fr Paul Pei Junmin, confirms Independent Catholic News. The event may mark a slight thawing of relations.
As previously indicated on Ekklesia, the approval has come just days after Pope Benedict XVI condemned the unauthorised ordination of two bishops by the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) in Beijing.
AsiaNews reports that Fr Pei was ordained coadjutor bishop by the current ordinary bishop, Jin Peixian. At least 5,000 Catholics celebrated the episcopal ordination on Sunday 7 May 2006.
During his homily, Bishop Jin highlighted the link between the ordination and the feast of the Good Shepherd: ìWe thank God not only for granting us a new bishop, but [we give thanks] also for vocations of young priests and nuns in our diocese.î
The diocese of Shenyang has more than 70 priests and as many seminarians; 150 sisters and around 100,000 faithful. Mgr Pei has so far occupied the posts of vice-rector and dean of studies at the major seminary. He is an expert in biblical theology and, as bishop, he has chosen as a motto ìIn verbo autem tuoî (following your Word).
More than Catholic 100 priests, including some who came from abroad, especially from Korea, participated in the Ordination Mass. In Shenyang diocese, there are groups of Korean ethnicity, and there are ongoing ties between Catholics in South Korea and China.
Only a small percentage of the crowd could participate in the ceremony inside the church; most followed the ordination on a large screen placed in the square opposite the cathedral.
According to AsiaNews, the presence of such a large number of believers is above all due to the fact that within the Catholic Church it was recognised that Mgr Pei had the approval of the Holy See.
The ìapprovedî ordinations followed two unauthorised episcopal ordinations of Chinese priests and a Vatican warning last week that such actions could jeopardise relations between Beijing and the Vatican.
The two illicit ordinations in Kunming and Wuhu were branded by a Vatican statement as ìa grave violation of religious freedomî and a ìserious wound to the unity of the Church,î incurring ìsevere canonical sanctions.î
The recognised Catholic Church in China is not permitted to have formal relations with the Pope, as this is seen as outside interference by the head of a foreign state (the Vatican City) by the Chinese authorities.
Some Catholics loyal to the papal authority continue an unregistered existence. The relationship between the recognised and unrecognised church is in some cases tense or non-existent and in other cases maintainable.
The situation has some parallels with the situation of Protestants, who are recognised through the China Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement ñ but who also exist in unofficial (and therefore illegal) gatherings.
This reflects the complex situation of religious organisation, recognition and freedom in modern China. The governmentís policy is to support religions as forces of moral stability in society, within often strict limits.
[Also on Ekklesia: China defends new bishops against Vatican criticism 08/05/04; Vatican attacks state-approved Chinese bishops; Political Cardinal gives warning to China; China criticized for attack on nuns and arrest of priests; Hong Kong churches push China on democracy; Rice urges China to expand religious freedoms; Chinese Christians released after raid on Bible school; Support Chinese Christians, British and Irish churches urged; Chinese churches face challenges of growth]
China and the Vatican relations thaw again
-11/05/06
Following a tense political showdown last week, the Vatican has approved the episcopal ordination of a US-educated priest in China, Fr Paul Pei Junmin, confirms Independent Catholic News. The event may mark a slight thawing of relations.
As previously indicated on Ekklesia, the approval has come just days after Pope Benedict XVI condemned the unauthorised ordination of two bishops by the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) in Beijing.
AsiaNews reports that Fr Pei was ordained coadjutor bishop by the current ordinary bishop, Jin Peixian. At least 5,000 Catholics celebrated the episcopal ordination on Sunday 7 May 2006.
During his homily, Bishop Jin highlighted the link between the ordination and the feast of the Good Shepherd: ìWe thank God not only for granting us a new bishop, but [we give thanks] also for vocations of young priests and nuns in our diocese.î
The diocese of Shenyang has more than 70 priests and as many seminarians; 150 sisters and around 100,000 faithful. Mgr Pei has so far occupied the posts of vice-rector and dean of studies at the major seminary. He is an expert in biblical theology and, as bishop, he has chosen as a motto ìIn verbo autem tuoî (following your Word).
More than Catholic 100 priests, including some who came from abroad, especially from Korea, participated in the Ordination Mass. In Shenyang diocese, there are groups of Korean ethnicity, and there are ongoing ties between Catholics in South Korea and China.
Only a small percentage of the crowd could participate in the ceremony inside the church; most followed the ordination on a large screen placed in the square opposite the cathedral.
According to AsiaNews, the presence of such a large number of believers is above all due to the fact that within the Catholic Church it was recognised that Mgr Pei had the approval of the Holy See.
The ìapprovedî ordinations followed two unauthorised episcopal ordinations of Chinese priests and a Vatican warning last week that such actions could jeopardise relations between Beijing and the Vatican.
The two illicit ordinations in Kunming and Wuhu were branded by a Vatican statement as ìa grave violation of religious freedomî and a ìserious wound to the unity of the Church,î incurring ìsevere canonical sanctions.î
The recognised Catholic Church in China is not permitted to have formal relations with the Pope, as this is seen as outside interference by the head of a foreign state (the Vatican City) by the Chinese authorities.
Some Catholics loyal to the papal authority continue an unregistered existence. The relationship between the recognised and unrecognised church is in some cases tense or non-existent and in other cases maintainable.
The situation has some parallels with the situation of Protestants, who are recognised through the China Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement ñ but who also exist in unofficial (and therefore illegal) gatherings.
This reflects the complex situation of religious organisation, recognition and freedom in modern China. The governmentís policy is to support religions as forces of moral stability in society, within often strict limits.
[Also on Ekklesia: China defends new bishops against Vatican criticism 08/05/04; Vatican attacks state-approved Chinese bishops; Political Cardinal gives warning to China; China criticized for attack on nuns and arrest of priests; Hong Kong churches push China on democracy; Rice urges China to expand religious freedoms; Chinese Christians released after raid on Bible school; Support Chinese Christians, British and Irish churches urged; Chinese churches face challenges of growth]