Fr Joseph Guo Jincai was ordained bishop of Chengde (Hebei) Saturday without a mandate from the pope.
The
ordination took place in the church of Pingquan (Chengde) in the
presence of eight official legitimate bishops, in other words, in
communion with the Holy See.
Despite objection from the Holy See prior to the ordination, (v. 18/11/2010 Holy See against an illicit Episcopal ordination and violence against bishops),
the event continued as scheduled from 9 am to 10.40 am, and attended by
also more than a dozen priests and 500 people, including government
officials.
A commemoration card of Guo’s ordination was distributed to
participants after the Mass.
In China, there had been no illicit ordinations since
2006, when in the space of a few days Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming and
Liu Xinhong of Anhui were ordained.
Even then, the Vatican issued a strong protest (05/04/2006 Holy See: illicit ordinations in China are a "serious violation of religious freedom").
The number of bishops who participated in bishop Ma’s ordination was one more than those present today .
Bishop Fang Jianping of Tangshan officiated the ordination of
Chengde. Other participants, seized by the government in recent days,
were bishops Pei Junmin of Liaoning, Li Lianggui of Cangzhou and Feng
Xinmao of Hengshui, as well as bishops Li Shan of Beijing, Meng Qinglu
of Hohhot, Zhao Fengchang of Liaocheng and Coadjutor bishop Francesco An
Shuxin of Baoding.
In March, the Vatican had given indications to the
bishops in communion with the Pope not to participate in acts (such as
assemblies or ordinations of bishops) that are in contradiction with
communion with the pope.
The participation of Mgr. An Shuxin creates more difficulties for the Vatican and the Church in China.
Last year, Mgr. An decided to emerge from the underground Church and be welcomed into the Church officially recognized by the government. His choice generated much controversy and division in the church of Baoding.
Local Catholic sources told AsiaNews that security
forces were deployed around the church where the ordination took place,
while several plainclothes policemen controlled everywhere.
The
local Catholics are saddened by the ordination and wondering if from
now on they can receive the sacraments from a bishop not in communion
with the Pope.
Catholics in other dioceses are angry for
what the government has done against the Church, embarrassing their
bishops and the Vatican.
Several of them are hoping that the Holy See will not hasten steps to establish diplomatic relations with China.
SIC: AN/INT'L