The Vatican has condemned a recent illicit episcopal ordination on mainland China,
which it says has “seriously wounded” communion with the Pope. A statement issued
early Wednesday says that Beijing authorities - by forcing other bishops to participate
in the ceremony - have gravely violated “freedom of religion and conscience”. Listen
to the full report by Emer McCarthy:
Full text
of statement:
Note of the Holy See Press Office regarding a recent Episcopal
ordination at Chengde, Province of Hebei, Mainland China.
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.