Chinese 'underground' priest released after 8 years in prison
August 12, 2014
A Chinese priest of the “underground” Catholic Church has been freed after 8 years in prison, the AsiaNews service reports.
Father Joseph Lu Genjun was arrested in 2006 while serving in the Hebei province. He was imprisoned without a trial, and his whereabouts were not disclosed. He had been arrested and jailed for short terms on three previous occasions.
Father Lu, who was harassed because of his refusal to join the Catholic Patriotic Association, was acting as vicar for the Baoding diocese, after the arrest of Bishops James Su Zhimin and Francis An Shuxin. The latter, Bishop An, later agreed to join the Patriotic Association, and has been recognized by the government. Bishop An is believed to have used his influence with officials to press for the release of Father Lu.
Bishop James Su Zhimin, who was arrested in 1996, remains in prison.
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