A bishop loyal to Rome, whose resignation to make way for a bishop appointed by Beijing is a key element in a much-anticipated Vatican-Beijing deal, has reportedly been released after being held overnight in police custody.
According to AsiaNews, Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin of Mindong was returned yesterday to his house, after being detained along with the chancellor of his diocese by government officials on the evening of 26 March.
A Vatican official told Associated Press recently that Bishop Guo, 59, had agreed to a Vatican request to become the auxiliary bishop of Mindong to allow the state-appointed Zhan Silu, to become the Vatican-recognised leader of the diocese. Because of his illicit ordination Zhan is excommunicated. He has requested reconciliation with the Holy See, but so far there has been no public proclamation of the lifting of the excommunication.
According to AsiaNews agency sources “close to Mindong”, Bishop Guo refused to concelebrate with Zhan at tomorrow’s Chrism Mass, since Zhan is still excommunicated. He was taken away because the “unofficial” community of Mindong - the majority of the faithful and priests of the diocese, who make up the “underground” Church loyal to Rome - had organised an early Chrism Mass. The police seized Bishop Guo to stop him from presiding over the celebration. Allowing him to return home yesterday, they reportedly banned him from celebrating any Mass as a bishop, on the grounds that he is not recognised by the Communist Government.
The much-vaunted deal between the Vatican and Beijing, whose announcement is expected imminently, hinges on the issue of who has authority and final say over episcopal appointments, and on what happens to a number of illicitly ordained bishops of the “Patriotic Church” recognised only by Beijing. Bishop Guo is one of two licit “underground” bishops who have reportedly been lined up to stand aside for illicitly ordained Patriotic Church bishops. The reported deal would allow Pope Francis to choose one name from a slate of three potential bishops provided by Beijing.
Just before these events, China's ruling Communist Party stepped up its control over all religions by closing its longstanding State Administration for Religious Affairs agency and handing its functions to the party's United Front Work Department (UFWD). The department - once described by Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a “magic weapon” - now has daily oversight and direct control over the state-run organisations of all five official religions, including the Catholic “Patriotic Church”.
Stricter new rules on religion in China were introduced on 2 February. The new rules place heavier oversight on discussion of religious matters on social media, on religious gatherings, the financing of religious groups and the construction of religious buildings. Religious education is brought further under the umbrella of the state, with explicit provisions on the establishment and registration of religious colleges.
President Xi Jinping, who recently engineered legislation providing for his own indefinite rule over China, has emphasised the need to guard against foreign infiltration through religion, and aggressively promoted what he terms the “sinicisation” of Christianity, which effectively means ensuring that it does not contravene the dictates of the Communist Party.
PICTURE: Bishop Guo ©Twitter
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