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                               VIS-Press releases

COMMUNIQUE ON EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN CHENGDE, CHINA

VATICAN CITY, 24 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the
following English-language communique concerning an episcopal ordination at
Chengde in the province of Hebei, Mainland China:

"With regard to the episcopal ordination of Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai, which took
place last Saturday 20 November, 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
abovementioned 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 Fr.
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 Fr. 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 normalising relations. 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".
OP/VIS 20101124 (600)

SUMMARY

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