We publish the full text of
the statement issued by Holy See Press Office on the episcopal
ordination of Chengde (Hebei), which took place on 20 November.
In this
very frank and clear statement, it is claimed that the illicit
ordination of Fr Guo Jincai, is a "serious breach of Catholic
discipline" and a "serious violation of freedom of religion and
conscience", as some bishops have been forced by restrictions and
pressures to participate.
The gesture has resulted in the pontiff’s
"profound regret" and the pain of the Chinese and the universal Church.
It accuses China of not being sensitive to the concerns and demands of
the Vatican and of handing over management of ecclesial affairs to the
layman Liu Bainian, who masterminded the illicit ordination.
For the
bishops involved (Guo Jincai and ordaining bishop) the risks of their
illicit canonical status recalled and doubts expressed about the
validity of the ordination.
With regard to the episcopal ordination of the Reverend Joseph
Guo Jincai, which took place last Saturday, November 20, information has
been gathered about what happened and it is now possible to state
clearly the following.
1. The Holy Father received the news with deep regret, because
the above-mentioned episcopal ordination was conferred without the
apostolic mandate and, therefore, constitutes a painful wound upon
ecclesial communion and a grave violation of Catholic discipline (cf. Letter of Benedict XVI to the Church in China, 2007, n. 9).
2. It is known that, in recent days, various Bishops were
subjected to pressures and restrictions on their freedom of movement,
with the aim of forcing them to participate and confer the episcopal
ordination. Such constraints, carried out by Chinese government and
security Authorities, constitute a grave violation of freedom of
religion and conscience. The Holy See intends to carry out a detailed
evaluation of what has happened, including consideration of the aspect
of validity and the canonical position of the Bishops involved.
3. In any case, this has painful repercussions, in
the first case, for the Reverend Joseph Guo Jincai who, because of this
episcopal ordination, finds himself in a most serious canonical
condition before the Church in China and the universal Church, exposing
himself also to the severe sanctions envisaged, in particular, by canon
1382 of the Code of Canon Law.
4. This ordination not only does not contribute to the good of
the Catholics of Chengde, but places them in a very delicate and
difficult condition, also from the canonical point of view, and
humiliates them, because the Chinese civil Authorities wish to impose on
them a Pastor who is not in full communion, either with the Holy Father
or with the other Bishops throughout the world.
5. Several times, during this current year, the Holy See has
communicated clearly to the Chinese Authorities its opposition to the
episcopal ordination of the Reverend Joseph Guo Jincai. In spite of
this, the said Authorities decided to proceed unilaterally, to the
detriment of the atmosphere of respect that had been created with great
effort with the Holy See and with the Catholic Church through the recent
episcopal ordinations. This claim to place themselves above the Bishops
and to guide the life of the ecclesial community does not correspond to
Catholic doctrine; it offends the Holy Father, the Church in China and
the universal Church, and further complicates the present pastoral
difficulties.
6. Pope Benedict XVI, in the above-mentioned Letter of 2007,
expressed the Holy See’s willingness to engage in a respectful and
constructive dialogue with the Authorities of the People’s Republic of
China, with the aim of overcoming the difficulties and normalizing
relations (n. 4). In reaffirming this willingness, the Holy See notes
with regret that the Authorities allow the leadership of the Chinese
Catholic Patriotic Association, under the influence of Mr. Liu Bainian,
to adopt attitudes that gravely damage the Catholic Church and hamper
the aforesaid dialogue.
7. The Catholics of the entire world are following with
particular attention the troubled journey of the Church in China: the
spiritual solidarity with which they accompany the vicissitudes of their
Chinese brothers and sisters becomes a fervent prayer to the Lord of
history, so that He may be close to them, increase their hope and
fortitude, and give them consolation in moments of trial.
24 November 2010.
SIC: AN/INT'L