In Defiant Move, The Chinese Communist Party Goes Behind Vatican's Back

Written By BlabberBuzz | Wednesday, 05 April 2023 05:15 AM
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In Defiant Move, The Chinese Communist Party Goes Behind Vatican's Back

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has once again violated the terms of the 2018 agreement with the Vatican by appointing a new bishop of Shanghai without papal approval.

Bishop Shen Bin's appointment was made by the CCP-controlled Council of Chinese Bishops, an organization that is not recognized by the Holy See. Unsurprisingly, Vatican sources have revealed that Shen's appointment was "unilateral".

While the details of the 2018 Sino-Vatican accord on the appointment of bishops have not been divulged, both parties must consent to any bishop candidate before they can be appointed.

Despite not receiving approval from the Vatican, Shen was officially installed as bishop of Shanghai last Tuesday, pledging to continue the tradition of "patriotism and love" for the Church in Shanghai while adhering to CCP's principles of independence and self-administration. Unfortunately, Bishop Shen is reportedly not well-liked in Shanghai due to his demand for large cash donations when ordaining priests in the diocese.

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Interestingly, Bishop Shen's appointment comes after the Vatican expressed their disappointment in Beijing's unilateral decision to demote Yujiang Bishop John Peng Weizhao last November.

This action was coupled with the creation of the diocese of Jiangxi, which is not recognized by the Holy See. Bishop Peng, who is a member of the underground Catholic Church loyal to Rome, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and secretly ordained as bishop of Yujiang, for which he was held under house arrest for six months.

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The Vatican statement noted that the CCP's actions did not align with the spirit of dialogue between two parties.

Previously approved by the Vatican, the former bishop of Shanghai, Bishop Ma Daqin, is currently under house arrest in Sheshan Seminary as punishment for his resignation from the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which he announced in 2012 during his episcopal ordination ceremony.

This latest move by the CCP demonstrates their unwillingness to adhere to mutually agreed-upon protocols, further complicating the already-tenuous relationship between the two entities.

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