Vatican official exhorts Chinese clerics to resist government pressure

June 03, 2011

The Hong Kong-born secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Evangelization is urging Chinese bishops to resist pressure to participate in illicit episcopal ordinations.

Divisions within the Church cause “great pain in the entire body,” said Bishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai; and in China the “whole body is scarred and bleeding.” With the Beijing regime reportedly preparing to ordain new bishops without Vatican approval, Bishop Hon says that the pressure on bishops and priests are being heavily pressed—in some cases arrested, isolated, and subjected to “re-education” classes-- to join in the ceremonies, in defiance of the Holy See. He encouraged the Chinese clergy to resist the pressure, imitating the heroic witness of those who have remained steadfast in their loyalty to Rome.

Bishop Hon also expressed frustration that the Vatican continually calls upon Beijing to release bishops who are now in jail, without receiving any response whatsoever.

 

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Further information:

• Chinese bishops should have no fear and say no to Beijing’s demands, says Mgr Savio Hon (AsiaNews)