Vatican attacks state-approved Chinese bishops
-05/05/06
The Vatican has condemned the
Vatican attacks state-approved Chinese bishops
-05/05/06
The Vatican has condemned the consecration of two bishops by China’s state-approved Catholic church, writes Luigi Sandri for Ecumenical News International. They say it is “a grave violation of religious liberty” and that the action will create new obstacles to improving relations with Beijing.
“It is a grave wound to the unity of the Church,” Vatican spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement on 4 May 2006. It noted that those involved in a consecration without papal approval face automatic excommunication from the church.
The Vatican declaration followed the consecration the day before of Joseph Liu Xinhong as bishop in Wuhu in the province of Anhui, and that of Joseph Ma Yinglin as bishop in Kunming in the province of Yunnan three days earlier.
China’s Catholics are divided into two groups: the state-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association which does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope; and the unrecognised Catholic Church, which is loyal to the Pope and has faced persecution by Chinese authorities.
The election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 was followed by a flurry of speculation that the Vatican would establish diplomatic relations with China. The Vatican is one of the world’s few states to recognise Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China has demanded it break ties with Taipei as a condition for improving relations.
“The Holy See has, on various occasions, stressed her willingness for honest and constructive dialogue with the competent Chinese authorities to find solutions that would satisfy the legitimate needs of both parties,” Navarro-Valls said. “Initiatives such as the above mentioned do not favour such dialogue but instead create new obstacles against it.”
Navarro-Valls noted, “According to the information received, bishops and priests have been subjected – on the part of external entities to the Church – to strong pressures and to threats, so that they take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illegitimate and, besides, contrary to their conscience.”
At the end of March 2006, the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, said “contacts” were underway with Beijing to resolve the problems between the two sides.
In April, Beijing repeated its willingness to find an agreement with Rome on condition that the Vatican break off relations with Taiwan, and practice “non interference” in internal Chinese matters.
According to diplomatic sources, the link between the Pope and the bishops is not “interference” but a necessary “consequence” of the communion of all the bishops with the pope.
On 22 February, Benedict XVI created 15 cardinals, including Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, an advocate for human rights in the People’s Republic of China. Beijing had criticised this appointment.
With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: 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]
Vatican attacks state-approved Chinese bishops
-05/05/06
The Vatican has condemned the consecration of two bishops by China’s state-approved Catholic church, writes Luigi Sandri for Ecumenical News International. They say it is “a grave violation of religious liberty” and that the action will create new obstacles to improving relations with Beijing.
“It is a grave wound to the unity of the Church,” Vatican spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement on 4 May 2006. It noted that those involved in a consecration without papal approval face automatic excommunication from the church.
The Vatican declaration followed the consecration the day before of Joseph Liu Xinhong as bishop in Wuhu in the province of Anhui, and that of Joseph Ma Yinglin as bishop in Kunming in the province of Yunnan three days earlier.
China’s Catholics are divided into two groups: the state-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association which does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope; and the unrecognised Catholic Church, which is loyal to the Pope and has faced persecution by Chinese authorities.
The election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 was followed by a flurry of speculation that the Vatican would establish diplomatic relations with China. The Vatican is one of the world’s few states to recognise Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China has demanded it break ties with Taipei as a condition for improving relations.
“The Holy See has, on various occasions, stressed her willingness for honest and constructive dialogue with the competent Chinese authorities to find solutions that would satisfy the legitimate needs of both parties,” Navarro-Valls said. “Initiatives such as the above mentioned do not favour such dialogue but instead create new obstacles against it.”
Navarro-Valls noted, “According to the information received, bishops and priests have been subjected – on the part of external entities to the Church – to strong pressures and to threats, so that they take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illegitimate and, besides, contrary to their conscience.”
At the end of March 2006, the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, said “contacts” were underway with Beijing to resolve the problems between the two sides.
In April, Beijing repeated its willingness to find an agreement with Rome on condition that the Vatican break off relations with Taiwan, and practice “non interference” in internal Chinese matters.
According to diplomatic sources, the link between the Pope and the bishops is not “interference” but a necessary “consequence” of the communion of all the bishops with the pope.
On 22 February, Benedict XVI created 15 cardinals, including Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, an advocate for human rights in the People’s Republic of China. Beijing had criticised this appointment.
With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: 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]