China - Vatican:the illicit ordinations

The three Asian cardinals created by Benedict XVI have joined. Convents and priest are praying also for the conversion of the Patriotic Association and Liu Bainian.

When a bishop is not chosen by the Holy See, priests usually refuse to concelebrate with him and believers keep their distance.

Following illicit ordinations – achieved through violence and deceit – the Patriotic Association subjects priests to political sessions and brainwashing to destroy their faithfulness to the pope.  AsiaNews supports the bishops' appeal.

He is the new coadjutor bishop of Shenyang. There was a large crowd of believers; most had to follow the ceremony on a large screen in a square outside the Cathedral.

Fr Paul Pei Junmin will be ordained, described by the Vatican "an excellent candidate". The Patriotic Association is ever more isolated, while the government has kept silent about the Vatican statement condemning the illicit ordinations.

Democratic, Populist and Socialist speakers addressing the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Union insisted on "necessary improvement of fundamental human freedoms in China."

Francis Rooney recalls the interventions of President Bush in China and in the meeting with Hu Jintao.

A statement by Navarro speaks of the Pope's "profound distress", "pressures and threats" against bishops and priests, and recalls the "serious sanctions" foreseen by canon law.

The Vatican sent a message to the candidate asking him to not go ahead.

Cardinal Zen "profoundly regrets" the illegal ordination of the bishop of Kunming, which took place "through pressure, threats, and it seems, even deceit". Kunming's Catholics feel "sorrow".

To take place tomorrow in Anhui.  The Patriotic Association is preparing many other ordinations of bishops to bring about a crisis in dialogue between Beijing and the Holy See.

In a fax sent this morning to officials of the diocese in Yunan, the cardinal "requested the ordaining bishop and co-ordaining bishops to suspend the episcopal ordination of Fr Ma Yinglin, because he has not received approval from the Holy See."

The Patriotic Association, to defend its power, is jeopardizing signals of détente between Beijing and Rome.  The candidate would want to backtrack, but the P.A. wants to proceed at all costs.