China probes former state-supported bishop

[Ray]

China probes former state-supported bishop

BEIJING -- The government body that controls the Catholic church in China says it is investigating the selection of a bishop who cut his ties to the group as soon as he was ordained, in an embarrassment to Beijing that could deepen its rift with the Vatican.

Shanghai's auxiliary Bishop Ma Daqin announced that he was leaving the Catholic Patriotic Association at the end of his ordination ceremony on Saturday, saying he wished to devote himself fully to his duties as bishop.

The move marked the biggest public challenge to Beijing's control over the Catholic clergy in years. The Vatican does not recognize the Catholic Patriotic Association and says the Chinese church should take its orders directly from Rome.

Ma's announcement was greeted with applause by hundreds of worshippers in Shanghai's Cathedral of St. Ignatius, the seat of one of China's largest, wealthiest and most independent dioceses. But he has not been seen since.

Ma, 44, was reportedly being held in isolation at a seminary. The Shanghai diocese said he had applied for and received permission to go into retreat beginning Sunday.

The Patriotic Association issued a two-sentence statement late Wednesday saying it was investigating violations of regulations in the selection of bishops in relation to Saturday's ordination.

Patriotic Association spokesman Yang Yu refused to provide further details on Thursday, saying to do so "might affect or influence public opinion" about an ongoing investigation.

"It is not convenient to release the details now," Yang said.

In Rome, a spokesman said Thursday that the Vatican had no immediate comment on the latest developments in Ma's case.

However, in a note Tuesday, the Vatican appeared to take a conciliatory approach, saying his ordination was "encouraging and is to be welcomed."

Hong Kong-based Catholic activist Anthony Lam said China's response to Ma's announcement would make reconciliation between the sides even harder. The onus is on Beijing to explain its actions, he said.

"Obviously the event will cause problems in the process of normalization of the China-Vatican relationship," Lam said.

The government's options in Ma's case appear limited. Barring him from his open episcopal duties could strengthen the status of the underground church that operates alongside the open church in most areas in defiance of government control. Allowing him to operate outside the Patriotic Association, however, would amount to a major surrender of authority.

Ma's ordination had marked a notable case of cooperation between China and the Vatican, which have no formal relations and disagree bitterly over who has the right to appoint bishops. China demands it do so independently, while the Holy See says only the pope can make such decisions.

China has an estimated 8 million to 12 million Catholics, around half of whom worship in underground congregations. China's officially atheistic Communist Party ordered Catholics to cut ties with the Holy See in the 1950s, and persecuted the church for years until restoring a degree of religious freedom and freeing imprisoned priests in the late 1970s.

China probes former state-supported bishop - The China Post

All religions in China is controlled by the State so that there is no anti Communist thoughts permeated to the public as also helps to keep a 'Big Brother is Watching' surveillance on the people.

It also prevent foreign religious bodies like the Vatican or the Saudi religious organisation from influencing the adherents of the religion(s).

However, it appears that people are feeling enough is enough. Hence the rebellion of the loyal servant of God and the Chinese Communist Govt. He has finally discovered God beyond what the Chinese Communist told him about!

With this rebellion, it will put the Chinese Communists in direct confrontation with the Vatican. And China can go fish!

But true to Chinese way of arresting people, the jolly Bishop who has found God for a change beyond the Chinese description of what is God, has been placed under 'house arrest' by being confined to the four walls of the seminary.

China, which appointed him and not having gauged that he will rebel immediately is now in a bind.

They will lose face, since this Bishop has proved how foolish the Communists are in that they can't even select people of their choice!

It sadly is a tight slap on the face of the Communist Chinese Govt wherein it shows that the Vatican has more control over the minds of the Roman Catholics than all the brain washing and economic goodies that are thrown to them by the Chinese Communist Govt.

It is also very dangerous for the Chinese Communists. in that they are losing the grip over their people.

Signs of rebellion and discarding of the false idol - Communism and CPC propaganda - is creeping in!