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                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   COMMUNIQUE ON EPISCOPAL ORDINATION IN CHENGDE, CHINA   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 24 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the   
   following English-language communique concerning an episcopal ordination at   
   Chengde in the province of Hebei, Mainland China:   
      
   "With regard to the episcopal ordination of Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai, which took   
   place last Saturday 20 November, information has been gathered about what   
   happened and it is now possible to state clearly the following.   
      
   "(1) The Holy Father received the news with deep regret, because the   
   abovementioned episcopal ordination was conferred without the apostolic mandate   
   and, therefore, constitutes a painful wound upon ecclesial communion and a   
   grave violation of Catholic discipline (cf. Letter of Benedict XVI to the   
   Church in China, 2007, n. 9).   
      
   "(2) It is known that, in recent days, various bishops were subjected to   
   pressures and restrictions on their freedom of movement, with the aim of   
   forcing them to participate and confer the episcopal ordination. Such   
   constraints, carried out by Chinese government and security authorities,   
   constitute a grave violation of freedom of religion and conscience. The Holy   
   See intends to carry out a detailed evaluation of what has happened, including   
   consideration of the aspect of validity and the canonical position of the   
   bishops involved.   
      
   "(3) In any case, this has painful repercussions, in the first case, for Fr.   
   Joseph Guo Jincai who, because of this episcopal ordination, finds himself in a   
   most serious canonical condition before the Church in China and the universal   
   Church, exposing himself also to the severe sanctions envisaged, in particular,   
   by canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law.   
      
   "(4) This ordination not only does not contribute to the good of the Catholics   
   of Chengde, but places them in a very delicate and difficult condition, also   
   from the canonical point of view, and humiliates them, because the Chinese   
   civil authorities wish to impose on them a pastor who is not in full communion,   
   either with the Holy Father or with the other bishops throughout the world.   
      
   "(5) Several times, during this current year, the Holy See has communicated   
   clearly to the Chinese authorities its opposition to the episcopal ordination   
   of Fr. Joseph Guo Jincai. In spite of this, the said authorities decided to   
   proceed unilaterally, to the detriment of the atmosphere of respect that had   
   been created with great effort with the Holy See and with the Catholic Church   
   through the recent episcopal ordinations. This claim to place themselves above   
   the bishops and to guide the life of the ecclesial community does not   
   correspond to Catholic doctrine; it offends the Holy Father, the Church in   
   China and the universal Church, and further complicates the present pastoral   
   difficulties.   
      
   "(6) Pope Benedict XVI, in the above-mentioned Letter of 2007, expressed the   
   Holy See's willingness to engage in a respectful and constructive dialogue with   
   the authorities of the People's Republic of China, with the aim of overcoming   
   the difficulties and normalising relations. In reaffirming this willingness,   
   the Holy See notes with regret that the authorities allow the leadership of the   
   Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, under the influence of Mr. Liu Bainian,   
   to adopt attitudes that gravely damage the Catholic Church and hamper the   
   aforesaid dialogue.   
      
   "(7) The Catholics of the entire world are following with particular attention   
   the troubled journey of the Church in China: the spiritual solidarity with   
   which they accompany the vicissitudes of their Chinese brothers and sisters   
   becomes a fervent prayer to the Lord of history, so that He may be close to   
   them, increase their hope and fortitude, and give them consolation in moments   
   of trial".   
   OP/VIS 20101124 (600)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)