The sacred building was destroyed because "illegal", but in reality it had all the building permits for 20 years. It’s destruction, perhaps for economic reasons, is "illegal": the land where the church was located is now worth a lot, thanks to the development that took place in the area.
For the first, the bishop of Urumqi, priests and faithful were banned from taking part in the funeral mass; there was no episcopal insignia in the photos; only half an hour for the ceremony. The other, bishop of Taiyuan, was surrounded by the affection and esteem of thousands of his priests and faithful. But "the saints who welcome the two bishops to the door of Paradise are equally numerous."
Although in a low key - perhaps because of talks with the Vatican - the slogan for an "autonomous" and "independent" Church (from the Holy See) is completely subjugated to Party politics. Official bishops die like "state officials" far from the faithful. The Party forces its members to atheism. There are few "witnesses" among official bishops and many "opportunists".
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