Posted on 06/09/2006 6:14:52 AM PDT by frogjerk
Edited on 06/09/2006 6:29:06 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican on Thursday excommunicated two bishops ordained by China's state-controlled church without the pope's consent, escalating tensions as the two sides explore preliminary moves toward improving ties.
The Vatican also excommunicated the two bishops who ordained them, saying church law mandates excommunication for bishops involved in ordinations without Vatican approval.
***************
Is this unusual?
No, but it is news worthy.
States are not allowed to create their own bishops any more than they're allowed to install their own popes. Not and remain Catholic, that is.
But it has happened before in history, which is why there are canon laws and penalties for these situations.
This is a breakaway church called the PCA (Patriotic Catholic Association) which was created in 1959 by the Communist government. The excommunication of those bishops effects little on the ground in China since these men are operating independently of the Catholic Church, and have been for 47 years. Benedict XVI issued the excommunication to warn the faithful really.
There is a sort of parallel "national" church that exists in China, although it contains validly consecrated bishops and validly ordained priests. The Chinese government wants to be able to control the Church in China, appointing or at least vetting the bishops itself, and the Church is insisting that this is the prerogative of the Church alone.
A similar situation existed with Henry VIII and the state church he created. What the Vatican is trying to do now is prevent the creation of another national/state church not united to Rome. It's a struggle; as the article notes, there are talks going on. So it's odd that the Chinese would force the issue right now.
*************
I had no idea that the Catholic Church in China was government run. Pope Benedict and the Vatican are doing a lot of much-needed housecleaning, it seems.
*************
Interesting comparison. You're right, it does seem odd.
Sorry, I misunderstood you. I meant it is usual that the Pope excommunicates Bishops being ordained without Vatican approval.
It's unusual in that it doesn't happen very often ... but when it (illicit ordination) does happen, excommunication is the usual result.
No problem. I received some excellent replies. Thanks for posting the article.
In PR China, there's the communist state run "Patriotic Catholic Association", which is illegitimate and operates in defiance of the Pope, and there's the Catholic Church, which must exist 'underground' in a state of severe persecution, but is in full communion with the Pope and the rest of us Catholics.
*************
Thanks. It seems very odd for a communist country to be involved in the Church, even in this way.
Dear trisham,
Of course, that neat division between the PCA and the real Church has blurred in recent years, as it turns out that the communist government of China and the Vatican have been inching toward rapprochement by privately agreeing to common candidates for episcopal appointments, and by the Vatican secretly accepting the allegiance of previously-schismatic state bishops and priests.
I read recently that the current dust-up may have been provoked by the leadership of the PCA, itself, in defiance of the central government. It appears that there may be elements in the PCA who aren't really in favor of better relations with the Church? There was a thread alluding to this stuff in the last week or two.
sitetest
Thank you. This thread has been very informative.
They were government appointed/approved bishops -- not the REAL Catholic Church is China. It is underground at this time.
In China
Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians
Can god Survive in China?
Chinese provincial high court overturns death sentences for Christian group
Chinese Province Loosens Child Policy
CHINA SENTENCES THREE PRIESTS UNDER CULT LAW
From The Desk Of Fr Joseph McLafferty:Bishop Francis X Ford,M.M.[MARTYR IN CHINA]
Let the Son Shine Out [China]
Catholics in China: Back to the Underground
China arrests a dozen Roman Catholic priests, seminarians; demolishes church
Chinese arrest 12 Catholic clerics
Cardinal declares China has "one Church with two faces"
ONLY ONE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA, VATICAN PRELATE SAYS
China Shuts 400 Temples and Churches in Zhejiang Province
125 Christian Meeting Halls in China Shut Down
Declaration by Cardinal Etchegaray on the Church in China
CHINA ARRESTS CHRISTIAN BLOGGER
In China, pews are packed
Foreign priests fill void in area pulpits
Chinese Bishops Want Vatican Approval
CHINA'S MARIAN SHRINES
LIST OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND PRIESTS IN PRISON IN COMMUNIST CHINA
An Unapproved Ordination Looms in China AsiaNews Sees Trouble Ahead
China ignores Vatican over bishop (Chinese gov't ordains its own Catholic bishop)
Report: Chinese Church to Defy Vatican
China Installs (2nd) Bishop Without Vatican OK)
Second thoughts on Communist episcopal ordinations
Vatican Excommunicates 4 Chinese Bishops
Vatican Statement on Illicit Ordinations in China - "A Grave Violation of Religious Liberty"
Authorities renew persecution of Catholics in China
Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong, China, offers Pontifical Solemn High Mass in the Tridentine rite
Monsignor Zhan Silu installs himself as bishop and condemns himself to isolation
Vatican official: Church in China seeks no privileges, only freedom
Vatican Excommunicates Four Chinese Bishops
The provision in the Code of Canon Law for excommunication, latae sententiae, of bishops who consecrate others bishop without papal mmandate, and those so consecrated, was actually added to the 1917 Code by Pius XII specifically in view of the "Patriotic" Church and its unauthorized episcopal consecations. Of course in the West it was most famously invoked with regard to Archbishop Lefebvre and the four SSPX members he consecrated without papal authorization in 1988. I doubt if the technical arguments advanced by Abp Lefebvre against the excommunication being effective (necessity, grave fear, etc.), whatever one might think of them in that case, could be thought to apply in the Chinese situation.
Thank you. I look forward to reading your links.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.