[trisham]

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.

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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.

[ArrogantBustard]

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.