In southwestern Sichuan province, Father Paul Lei Shiyin was ordained bishop of Leshan -- without a papal mandate -- in the presence of about 1,000 guests and government officials at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Emeishan, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.
Bishop Johan Fang Xingyao of Linyi, president of the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, was the main celebrant. The six other bishops who laid hands on Bishop Lei had all been ordained with Vatican approval.
Bishop Lei was the first bishop ordained in China without Vatican approval since the Vatican published a clarification about the excommunication of those who participate in the ordination of a bishop not recognized by the pope.
The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts published a text earlier in June explaining that unauthorized ordinations generally bring the penalty of automatic excommunication, but there can be mitigating circumstances -- including fear of reprisal, necessity or serious inconvenience.
Still, the council said, the ordination of a bishop without papal approval provokes scandal and confusion among the faithful, and this scandal must be repaired through acts of communion and penitence.
Bishop Lei, 48, told UCA News he can personally obey the church unconditionally but he also has to consider the fundamental interests of the local church.
"I wrote a letter and answered inquiries from Rome a year ago. I did what I needed to do and have waited for a long time," he said.
The local church cannot give up the opportunity of evangelization, he said.
"I hope you can understand that we have to consider the church's survival and development. We have no way out and cannot sidestep this issue but must work according to the reality," he said.
Meanwhile, in northern China's Hebei province, Handan Diocese had planned to proceed with the ordination of Father Joseph Sun Jigen, elected coadjutor bishop by diocesan officials and approved by the Vatican. However, government officials objected to the ordination date of June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, saying it was too close to the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China July 1.
Father Sun was forcibly taken away by security officers June 26 and was being "looked after" by government officials, UCA News reported.
It was unclear from the UCA News reports if the government officials preventing the ordination were local or federal. Often in China, mid-level officials in the provinces carry out government policies in different manners.
On June 29 Handan Diocese posted on its website a notice to demand the return of Father Sun and a letter to the government protesting its interference in the ordination.
The previous day, plainclothes police were stationed at all road junctions leading to the church where the ordination was scheduled.
As people who did not know that the ordination was postponed arrived, police in the church compound dispersed them, causing tension, one source told UCA News.
Catholics across China have called for fasting and prayer to the intercession of Sts. Peter and Paul for the church in China in the light of the news of the two situations.
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