Vatican City, Apr 14, 2011 / 14:32 pm
The Vatican is describing the recent ordination of a Chinese bishop without the approval of Rome as “gravely illegitimate” but is stopping short of definitely declaring him excommunicated.
Father Joseph Guo Jincai was ordained as Bishop of Chendge in northern China last November. In a communiqué issued April 14 the Vatican said on the basis of the information and testimonies it has received so far, it has “no reason to consider it invalid,” although it “does regard it as gravely illegitimate, since it was conferred without the Papal mandate.”
The Vatican said that the manner of Bishop Jincai’s ordination “renders illegitimate” the exercise of his ministry.
The statement was published at the conclusion of a three-day Vatican conference entitled, “The Commission for the Catholic Church in China.”
At present, the Chinese government only allows the state-controlled “Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association” and a similarly run bishops’ conference to operate within the country. Neither organization acknowledges the authority of the Pope and they in turn are not recognized by the Church.