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Catholic World News News Feature

Chinese officials arrest underground priests August 01, 2007

Three priests of the underground Catholic Church in China were arrested on July 24 in Inner Mongolia, the Cardinal Kung Foundation reports.

The three priests-- Fathers Liang Aijun, Wang Zhong, and Gao Jinbao-- were arrested because they have refused to accept the authority of the government-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association. They had been serving in parishes in Hebei province, but traveled to Inner Mongolia in an unsuccessful effort to escape from authorities.

A fourth priest, Father Lui Tai, was taken into police custody after he was involved in a minor traffic accident, the Cardinal Kung Foundation reports. He was also serving the underground Church in Hebei province, and was under pressure to join the Patriotic Association.

The Hebei province, surrounding Beijing, has been the scene of numerous conflicts between Catholics of the underground Church and government officials seeking to enforce the authority of the Patriotic Association. In his recent message to the Church in China, Pope Benedict XVI stressed that loyal Catholics can also be loyal Chinese citizens, but the Church cannot bow to control by a government-controlled organization.