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Pope Appeals To China Over Naming Of Bishops

Chinese Bishop

First Posted: 04/14/11 09:19 PM ET Updated: 04/14/11 09:19 PM ET

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By Francis X. Rocca
Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican on Thursday (April 14) lamented China's interference with the Roman Catholic Church, and reaffirmed Pope Benedict XVI's willingness to negotiate with Beijing on the appointment of bishops.

A message to Chinese Catholics, published by the pope's special commission on China, noted the "sad episode" of a bishop in the northeastern city of Chengde who was ordained without the Vatican's consent last November.

For half a century, Chinese Catholics have been divided between a state-run church independent of the Vatican and an "underground" church of Catholics loyal to the pope.

The "official" church, supervised by the Catholic Patriotic Association, has claimed 5 million members; the total number of Chinese Catholics is estimated at 12 million to 15 million.

Thursday's message reiterated Benedict's 2007 call for an agreement that would allow the Vatican to approve bishops appointed by Beijing. The message noted that the Chengde ordination took place following a series of bishops' ordinations to which both parties had given consent.

The message did not mention the new bishop of the southern city of Jiangmen, who was ordained on Mar. 30 with the approval of the Vatican and Beijing.

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By Francis X. Rocca Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican on Thursday (April 14) lamented China's interference with the Roman Catholic Church, and reaffirmed Pope Benedict XVI's willin...
By Francis X. Rocca Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican on Thursday (April 14) lamented China's interference with the Roman Catholic Church, and reaffirmed Pope Benedict XVI's willin...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bbriani3842   37 minutes ago (10:23 PM)
530 Fans
I would like the Chinese to nominate the following people:

Michael Hunt
Holden MacGroyen
Oliver Closov
Myra Butreeks

and

Don Ho and his wife Nasty. . .
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Sharon Reed   7 hours ago (4:13 PM)
1 Fans
lol. I bet sooner or later the Chinese government will get sick of the pope's yearly appeals that they will appoint their own pope. Just like how they appoint the God-King Dalai Lama since the Qing dynasty.

Anyway why are all the popes in history Europeans? I don't think an omnipotent God is a racist.
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ThinkCreeps   07:53 PM on 4/15/2011
590 Fans
Don't make Ratzinger have to go over there and get medieval on ya!

(He does a very convincing medieval).
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bearchao   06:41 PM on 4/15/2011
111 Fans
"Pope appeals to China"

I doubt that they find him appealing at all.
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Parade Keegan   07:24 PM on 4/15/2011
87 Fans
It's true. This pope has no credibilit­y, it was his to lose and he did. Hopefully he won't be pope much longer though the only way to get a new pope is sad indeed.
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Syl 13   04:19 PM on 4/15/2011
33 Fans
If there's something worse than the Vatican being in control of the Church, it's the CCP. Why do we enrich them when they're the largest violator of human rights? It's not just the Catholic Church or the Falun Gong: any assembly that isn't given official approval is subject to harassment­, arrests, and violence. They want complete control of every aspect of every citizen's lives.

We should stop giving them the business. If you knew a local store let the managers beat its employees and control everything from the number of children they had to their faith lives, would you give him your money? Its only because the populace enjoys a semblance of prosperity and stability that they can pretend to be content to have no freedom. Take away the prosperity and they will want freedom. And we could do it, as their biggest export market.
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Fuddpacker   03:28 PM on 4/15/2011
196 Fans
China didn't bother with the Vatican's approval because they had already decided that abusing small boys was against their belief system.
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bearchao   12 hours ago (11:21 AM)
111 Fans
Fanned
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LMPE   02:09 PM on 4/15/2011
744 Fans
Now Benny, about the raping of children..­.
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OGigi   12:10 PM on 4/15/2011
19 Fans
From Above: A message to Chinese Catholics, published by the pope's special commission on China, noted the "sad episode" of a bishop in the northeaste­rn city of Chengde who was ordained without the Vatican's consent last November.

Then if not the will of the Pope, do not see how he is authentica­ted by the Roman Catholic Church.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Billy Fritts   04:29 PM on 4/15/2011
228 Fans
The Chinese are going to elect there own pope--they dont trust the one thats in there now-- but you will have two popes---WO­W--
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allperils   10:48 AM on 4/15/2011
47 Fans
Dear Pope,

Your days of influencin­g government decisions are long long over. Contrary to what other people think, I would be saddened if China or any other nation for that matter took any of your advice for real.

No really, religion(s­) needs to be abolished.
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Peric Overde   12:11 PM on 4/15/2011
17 Fans
As much as I agree with you that religion(s­) should be abolished I see what is happening in China as very dangerous as well. In essence you have The State deciding over religious matters. One only have to look at Islamic societies to appreciate the mess this generates. That said, the Chinese drones collective with their usual submission would simply accept what is imposed on them.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Macnos   12:16 PM on 4/15/2011
25 Fans
That comment is kind of foolish if you think about it. It's not a matter of the Vatican interferin­g in Government matters, rather it is a question of the Chinese government interferin­g in Vatican matters. Why should the communists be choosing who becomes a Bishop? That's clearly interferen­ce. A little thinking can go a long way my friend.
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plumbergirl   12:56 PM on 4/15/2011
27 Fans
This is the first time I have seen China's Government supporting a religion, I thought they were communist and didn't like religion. Now if they are going to be switching over to Catholicis­m they really should fallow the rules. ROFL
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FoxReincarnated   09:42 AM on 4/15/2011
85 Fans
China shouldnt have any christians­. The country is Buddhist, which is far more spiritual than the garbage known as Christiani­ty.
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allperils   10:49 AM on 4/15/2011
47 Fans
Fan and Faved.

Islam and Christians­....the most violent religions to date.

Don't take my word for it, look at history.

Crusade after Crusade, even today, there are Crusades.
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Loggietoad   11:27 AM on 4/15/2011
49 Fans
What a silly, silly comment. How about people can follow whichever faith they prefer?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Macnos   12:20 PM on 4/15/2011
25 Fans
Have you ever heard of Freedom of Choice? Don't fret though, the guy below seems to be just as foolish-mi­nded as you are.
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FoxReincarnated   03:13 PM on 4/15/2011
85 Fans
Christians dont believe in freedom of choice you dummy. tey believe in freedom for christians only
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Myoho Mod   01:47 PM on 4/15/2011
147 Fans
China is not a Buddhist country, they are currently communist which calls religion the optimum of the masses.

Historical­ly China only had one period where they were considered a "Buddhist" country. But soon to being a Taoist / Confucius country

http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/F­our_Buddhi­st_Persecu­tions_in_C­hina
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Sean Connolly   07:51 AM on 4/15/2011
15 Fans
Mao zhuxi wansui!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
YourNewNeighbor   03:43 AM on 4/15/2011
275 Fans
I wonder if they eat their transubsta­ntiation wafers with chopsticks­?
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clivechristy   01:54 AM on 4/15/2011
243 Fans
Chinese Politician­s shrug their collective shoulders and would likely reply to the Pope that Westerners are spoilt ideologist­s, Chinese people are hard headed pragmatist­s who treat government and organized religion as a game of GO not a naive fluffy religion. Playing GO takes skill, non-expert­s can not contribute­. Likewise, the Chinese people accept that experts are better able to decide what is effective and what is not, in government­. Therefore political activism and outside decisions on religion has no place in China, because experts call the shots and populist ideologica­l debate is judged both worthless and dangerous. Do you think they could implement a one child policy or move 1.4 million people out of their homes if they allowed popular debate? Of course not. The Chinese people know how the Catholic and Western system works, and as long as they keep delivering the goods they are happy to let the government call the shots. The don't have tanks on the streets or walls around the country to stop people emigrating like the Soviet Union, North Korea or the bad old days of Mao. In the West pop stars and journalist­s sing or write whatever sells, but underminin­g government in China is illegal. Whether under the guise of religion or not, that's their system of government­, it's a paternalis­tic elitist system, and the Pope is a threat, not a comrade. The Catholic Church should understand it, since they did it themselves for close to 1000 years.
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FoxReincarnated   09:44 AM on 4/15/2011
85 Fans
You bring up a great point, Quiverfull christians in china just wouldnt work well. At all.
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