China: bishop to be ordained with Vatican and state approval

November 29, 2011

With the approval of the Holy See and Communist officials, Father Peter Luo Xuegang will be ordained coadjutor bishop of Yibin, a city of 4.5 million in south-central China. The priest will be consecrated by Bishop John Chen Shizhong, who is 95.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said that he hopes “no illegitimate bishop participates” in the consecration. But at least one such bishop—Paul Lei Shiyin, who was installed in June as Bishop of Leshan without Vatican approval, and consequently excommunicated—has said that he received an invitation and plans to attend. Local Catholics are concerned that the president of the Patriotic Association, who has been excommunicated, will also participate.

 

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Further information:

• China to ordain Vatican-approved bishop (AP)
• Sichuan, a new ordination after excommunications (AsiaNews)
• Ousted priest to attend ordination (UCAN)
• Vatican statement on China repeats: illicit ordination means excommunication (CWN, 7/12)