Thousands attend funeral of China’s underground bishop
(January 8, 2009) Thousands of Catholics in China on Wednesday defied snow, freezing
temperatures and police to attend the funeral of a bishop who refused to join the
government recognized Catholic Church. Some 4000 believers came to pay their last
respects Coadjutor Bishop Leo Yao Liang of Xiwanzi, in Hebei province, who died on
30 December at the age of 87. Bishop Yao spent 30 years in prison for not joining
the government-sponsored church called the Patriotic Association. From 2006 to 2009
he was again arrested by the police for the same reason. People participated in
the funeral Mass despite prohibitions and restraints by public security which for
days has stopped people from outside the country coming to town and take part in the
funeral. As the bishop was an underground pastor, he was not recognized by the government,
thus local authorities obliged no use of Episcopal insignia in the Church ceremony,
and to refer to the deceased prelate only as "Pastor Yao" not "Bishop Yao".