Clerical kidnappings, elections, and COVID dominate Catholic news in Americas
- Apr 13, 2021
The last governor of Hong Kong criticized the Vatican’s agreement with China on the appointment of bishops and said Pope Francis has been “exceptionally badly advised” in concluding the pact.
The Vatican on Tuesday answered critics and justified its pursuit of an extended agreement with China on bishop nominations, acknowledging difficulties but insisting the effort had achieved limited, positive results.
China has announced that Bishop Paul Ma Cunguo of Shuozhou, a Vatican-recognized bishop, has joined the official state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
An 83-year-old Chinese bishop was installed in a state-sanctioned church ceremony June 9, the third bishop to be recognized by the communist regime since the Vatican and China signed an agreement in 2018 on the appointment of bishops.
Catholics are upset about a directive from China’s communist government asking priests to “preach on patriotism” as a condition for reopening liturgical services, suspended earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Communist authorities in territory covered by the Anhui Diocese removed crosses from the top of two church buildings.
In a new letter, retired Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen says Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is “manipulating” Pope Francis on the issue of China.
Christian funerals outside of churches have been banned in some areas of China as the communist government begins to enforce new regulations on religious practices.