Report: China says no to pope-appointed bishops
From Times of India:
China’s “official church” has rejected the Pope’s demand that Beijing should stop appointing bishops without approval from the Vatican. The Pope also said he is willing to sort out the differences between the Vatican and the Chinese government over restoration of diplomatic ties that were severed way back in 1949.
At the heart of the controversy are two issues: the Chinese refusal to accept the Pope as a power higher than the local government over the affairs of the church; and the fact that the Vatican continues to regard Taiwan as a sovereign state. China regards Taiwan as part of its own territory and does not have relations with any third country that has diplomatic ties with Taipei.
The official church, which has been appointing bishops to fill vacancies without reference to the Vatican, has made it clear that it will not give up its independence in the matter of appointing bishops. This has caused heartburn for both the Vatican and Beijing. The Vatican appoints bishops all over the world without interference from any government….
Full report here.
