This is betrayal at its worse. To snub the very bishops and clergy who are totally loyal to Rome. The courageous spokesman for the persecuted Church in China, Cardinal Zen, is now being shunned by the Vatican. Fellow Salesian, Archbishop Savio Hon, who served in the Curia, has been sent out of the way to Guam.
AsiaNews, Bernard Cervellera: The faithful of the underground Church are frustrated by the Holy See’s “overlooking” them. There have been no underground bishops, but only apostolic administrators, for almost 20 years. In the eyes of the faithful, this decision is a kind of death sentence for their communities. “Embraces”, meetings and souvenir photos with the pope for officials; no meetings or blessings for underground priests, and bishops. The question of registration to the Patriotic Association. An official bishop: “We are all puppets. We just do what they tell us to do”. A double defeat for the Vatican and China. Full report is here.
