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Vatican Objects To Ordination In China

By Howard M. Friedman

As reported by CNS, yesterday the Vatican issued a statement (full text) denouncing China for ordaining Rev. Joseph Guo Jincai without consent of the Vatican. Dozens of government officials attended the Mass at which 8 current bishops participated in the ordination. Emphasizing that it had clearly communicated its objections to the ordination to Chinese authorities several times this year, the Vatican said:

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.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 25, 2010 (boomark / email).