Vatican lauds ordination of China’s missing bishop

Last updated on: July 10, 2012 at 10:29 pm by CNA Daily News

Vatican lauds ordination of China’s missing bishop 2012-07-10T22:29:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jul 10, 2012 / 04:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican has praised the approved ordination of a Chinese bishop, who is now missing after announcing his split from the state-controlled Catholic association during his ordination.

“The ordination of the Reverend Thaddeus Ma Daqin as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Shanghai on Saturday 7 July 2012 is encouraging and is to be welcomed,” said a July 10 Vatican communique.

During the ordination ceremony, Bishop Ma revealed that he was quitting his posts within the government-run Catholic Patriotic Association which refuses to acknowledge the authority of the Pope.

“After today’s ordination, I would devote every effort to episcopal ministry. It is inconvenient for me to serve the CPA post anymore,” he said, according to the Catholic UCANews agency which reports on the Church in Asia.

The announcement by the 44-year-old native of Shanghai was made in front of several state officials and was seen by many as a rebuke to China’s communist regime. The 1000 strong congregation in the city’s St Ignatius Cathedral responded with rapturous applause.

Bishop Ma, however, has not been seen in public since. Various media outlets suggest he was whisked away by state-officials following the ceremony.

UCANews reports that priests and nuns in Shanghai have since received a text message from Bishop Ma’s cellphone claiming to be sent by him.

It states that he was “mentally and physically exhausted” and needed “a break” to make “a personal retreat.” It also claims he is residing in the Sheshan seminary near Shanghai.

The mystery surrounding Bishop Ma comes on the day the Vatican formally announced the excommunication of 48-year-old Fr. Joseph Yue Fusheng following his illicit ordination as bishop of Harbin in north-east China on July 6.

“Consequently, the Holy See does not recognize him as Bishop of the Apostolic Administration of Harbin, and he lacks the authority to govern the priests and the Catholic community in the Province of Heilongjiang,” the July 10 communique reads.

The note also stipulates that those licitly ordained Catholic bishops who took part in the ordination have “exposed themselves to the sanctions laid down by the law of the Church” and must now “give an account to the Holy See of their participation in that religious ceremony.”

It commends all Chinese Catholics who “prayed and fasted for a change of heart in the Reverend Yue Fusheng” and urges them to continue to “defend and safeguard that which pertains to the doctrine and tradition of the Church.”

“Even amid the present difficulties, they look to the future with faith, comforted by the certainty that the Church is founded on the rock of Peter and his Successors.”

China has an estimated eight to twelve million Catholics, with about half of those worshiping within the Catholic Patriotic Association.

Uncategorized

Vatican

Previous Post

July 10, 2012

Peruvian cardinal calls for end to violence over building of new mine

Next Post

July 11, 2012 Catholic cultural review 'Humanitas' now accesible in English

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Isaac's wife?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rebekah Sarah Rachel Leah