Leshan diocese is scheduled to ordain a bishop without papal mandate at the Our Lady of Rosary Church in Emeishan city in southwestern Sichuan province tomorrow, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. If Father Paul Lei Shiyin, the candidate to be ordained in Leshan, is a legal bishop under China’s regulation and policy as claimed by the “open” Church authorities, it means “the government is interfering into Church matters,” said a Church observer outside China today. It also reflects a more restrictive policy imposed on the China Church and does not respect the observation given by the Church, he said, noting that there may be dozens more illegitimate bishops coming if the “open” Church is to fill 40 bishop vacancies.

1. Beijing ‘interferes in Church matters’ www.ucanews.com

2. Policy becoming more restrictive, China 'in danger of emulating Soviet Union‘.

3. Leshan diocese is scheduled to ordain a bishop without papal mandate at the Our Lady of Rosary Church in Emeishan city in southwestern Sichuan province tomorrow, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

4. If Father Paul Lei Shiyin, the candidate to be ordained in Leshan, is a legal bishop under China’s regulation and policy as claimed by the “open” Church authorities, it means “the government is interfering into Church matters,” said a Church observer outside China today.

5. It also reflects a more restrictive policy imposed on the China Church and does not respect the observation given by the Church, he said, noting that there may be dozens more illegitimate bishops coming if the “open” Church is to fill 40 bishop vacancies.

6. This is not the way to create a harmonious society, he said, warning that China may make mistakes like the former Soviet Union, which failed to reform human rights and freedoms and also failed to find solutions for possible confrontation with its people.

7. It is “ironic” that the scheduled episcopal ordination on June 29 of a Vatican-approved bishop in Handan was forced to be cancelled on the excuse that the date is too close to the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, while an illicit ordination is allowed to go ahead on the same day, added the Church observer.

8. The scheduled June 29 ordination of Coadjutor Bishop-elect Joseph Sun Jigen of Handan from northern Hebei province was reportedly canceled yesterday due to pressure from the government.

9. Bishop-elect Sun, whose appointment was approved by the pope, is currently being “looked after” by government officials in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang, Church sources say.

10. In southwestern China, a lay leader said: “Rome can do little on illicit ordinations unless it declares that for the sake of communion with the universal Church, laypeople should not receive sacraments from illegitimate bishops even though they are valid.”

11. Related news@ Leshan ‘to ordain unapproved bishop’ Ordination to proceed despite objections

12. Source @ http://www.ucanews.com/2011/06/28/beijing-interferes-in-church-matters/ http://www.ucanews.com/