Aug 24, 2007 / 07:04 am
The Chinese Public Security and Religious Bureau arrested Bishop Jia Zhiguo, the underground bishop of the Diocese of Zheng Ding in Hebei Province, again. At press time, the reason for his arrest yesterday and his current whereabouts were not known.
In the five days before his arrest, there was a marked increase in the number of security police that had Bishop Jia under strict 24-hour surveillance as well as police vehicles parking outside of the bishop's residence, reports the Cardinal Kung Foundation.
Anyone coming to visit the bishop was summarily arrested. A priest and a layperson were arrested and interrogated for eight hours before they were released.
Since the release of the Pope Benedict XIV’s China letter, Bishop Jia was told several times by the religious bureau that he was not allowed to publicly support and promulgate the letter.