The Vatican has come down hard against
an illicit Episcopal ordination to be held Nov. 20 and against
constraints placed on some bishops in communion with the Pope to attend
the ceremony.
A statement released today by the Vatican Press Office, states that
"The Holy See is disturbed by reports from Mainland China alleging that a
number of bishops in communion with the Pope are being forced by
government officials to attend an illicit Episcopal ordination in
Chengde, northeastern Hebei, said to be scheduled around November 20".
Priests in Hebei province say they have had no contact with at least
two bishops from the area, Msgr. Peter Feng Xinmao Hengshui (Jingxian)
and Msgr. Joseph Li Liangui of Cangzhou (Xianxian), for several days.
The priests are confident that this means that the government has
detained them to force them to participate in an Episcopal ordination
without the approval of the Holy See.
AsiaNews had already received information about this ordination a few months ago.
The Vatican press release states that " If these reports are true,
then the Holy See would consider such actions as grave violations of
freedom of religion and freedom of conscience" and adds that such an
such an ordination is “illicit and damaging to the constructive
relations that have been developing in recent times between the People's
Republic of China and the Holy See"
The candidate for the illicit ordination is one Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai
(see photo), ordained in '92 and always pampered by the regime. He is
set to become bishop of Chegde (Hebei).
Fr. Guo was a professor at the
national seminary in Beijing and deputy secretary general of the
Patriotic Association, as well as Catholic representative of the
National Assembly, the "parliament" in Beijing.
The Vatican press release confirms that according to the Holy See,
"Fr Joseph Guo Jincai has not received the approval of the Holy Father
to be ordained as a bishop of the Catholic Church".
The statement notes that "the Holy See, keen to develop
positive relations with China, has contacted the Chinese authorities on
this whole matter and has made its own position clear".
Despite a certain deference, the statement is very clear. According
to testimonies published by UCAN news agency, Hengshui priests
themselves asked the Holy See to intervene by condemning the illicit
ordination and (forced) participation of the bishops.
In addition, there
are a number of bishops of the region, who have been subjected to
various
threats to encourage them to participate.
For nearly four years the government and the Patriotic Association
had not imposed more illicit ordinations. In 2006, a series of three
ordinations without the permission of the Holy See provoked a strong
reaction from the Vatican.
Since then there have been many ordinations
of bishops - 10 this year alone - but where the candidate was nominated
by the Holy See, welcomed by the diocesan bodies and accepted and
recognized by the government.
It is likely that the illicit Episcopal ordination is a threat
towards the Holy See, which in March issued a statement asking bishops
to avoid "making gestures (such as, for example, the celebration of
sacraments, ordinations of bishops, attending meetings) that contradict
communion with the Pope".
The Patriotic Association and the government are preparing for the
National Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives, a body whose
objects are defined by the pope as "incompatible" with the Catholic
Church.
In order for it to be a success, all bishops must participate,
but the Holy See is opposed (see " Assembly of Chinese Catholics "by the end of the year").
Thus the threat is : either you participate or we will fill China with
patriotic bishops independent of the pope. In China there are about 20
dioceses without bishops or with very old pastors, men who should
already be retired.
SIC: AN/INT'L