China-Vatican ties under more pressure

[Guest Warwick Green]

I don't think the state should try to run religion any more than religion should try to run the state.

The state-backed Catholic Church in China has installed a second bishop in three days without the Vatican's approval. Liu Xinhong was consecrated bishop of Wuhu in the eastern province of Anhui on Wednesday. This follows Sunday's consecration of a bishop in southwestern China, also without papal blessing. The Vatican is reportedly unhappy with the moves, which come at a time when the dialogue between Beijing and the Vatican have come under increasing pressure. The head of Hong Kong's Catholic Church Cardinal Joseph Zen said on Tuesday that the Vatican should break off talks with China over the issue. Over a third of China's approximately 12 million Catholics belong to the underground church, which is loyal to the Vatican.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,2145,12215_pg_8,00.html

[Guest Warwick Green]

The Vatican has excommunicated two bishops who were ordained by China's state-run Catholic church without Rome's approval.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Pope Benedict XVI considers the Chinese ordinations a grave violation of religious freedom, since the Vatican believes it alone has the power to create new Catholic bishops.

"The Holy Father learned of the news with great sadness," Navarro-Valls said in a statement Thursday.

He called China's decision to ordain the bishops "a great wound to the unity of the Church."

Navarro-Valls later confirmed that the two bishops had been excommunicated, in line with Vatican guidelines for dealing with unauthorized ordinations, along with the two bishops who presided at their ordinations.

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http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...shops-pope.html