China denied that authorities detained an underground bishop last week, after the Vatican poured water on Beijing’s suggestion that a deal on the appointment of prelates was imminent. This has highlighted the wobbly ties between the Vatican and China
Clergy chosen by atheist Communist Party
China’s roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican. Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951, but ties have improved as China’s Catholic population grows
Underground church
The Vatican relaunched long-stalled negotiations with Beijing three years ago. But the question of whether China or the Holy See gets to designate bishops has been a major obstacle to progress. AFP previously reported that Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin was first detained last Monday for about 24 hours and then on Thursday he was forced to travel to the city of Xiamen over 200 kilometres away from his diocese before being releasedGuo, a bishop in southeastern province of Fujian, is recognised by the Vatican but not by the Chinese authorities. But the Vatican was urging him to step aside for a prelate recognised by China’s Communist government as the two sides try to reach a deal on the appointment of bishops
No foreign interference in religious affairs
Asked about Beijing’s refusal to allow the Vatican to freely appoint Chinese bishops, Chen Zongrong, former Vice Administrator of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, told AFP: “The Chinese Constitution clearly stipulates that China’s religious groups and religious affairs are not subject to control by foreign forces”
While some believe an agreement will bridge divisions between the two, others fear concessions to China may backfire on the “underground” devout, many of whom suffered years of persecution for following the Pope