Friday, July 20, 2012

Chinese bishop held in seminary

A Chinese priest who publicly quit the state-sanctioned Catholic Church and was made bishop with the pope’s approval was taken away by officials last weekend and is being held in his seminary, a source said on Tuesday, in a move likely to further strain relations between Beijing and the Vatican. 

The incident is the latest sticking point in a long-running dispute over the status of China’s state-backed chu-rch, which rejects papal control. 

Beijing and the Vatican differ over who has the aut-hority to appoint bishops. 

Thaddeus Ma Daqin’s movements have been restricted since he was taken away by officials on Saturday shortly after he was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai with the approval of the pope, the source close to the Vatican said.

The source cited more than 10 sources who had direct knowledge of the situation, but declined to be named, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

Repeated calls to the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association went unanswered. 

A Vatican spokesman confirmed the ordination but declined to comment.