Top official urges independent Chinese Catholic Church

[rug]

Senior Chinese official Yu Zhengsheng says China's Catholics should build a more independent, socialist church

30 Dec 2016 at 11:45
WRITER: AFP

BEIJING - Catholics in China should build a more independent, socialist church, a senior Beijing official has said, as the government remains at odds with the Vatican on the issue of ordaining bishops.

The country's roughly 12 million believers are divided between those loyal to Beijing, whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and members of a so-called "underground" church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.

The Holy See and Beijing have not had diplomatic ties since 1951, and although relations have improved in recent years as China's Catholic population has grown, they remain at odds over which side has the authority to appoint senior clergy.

On Thursday, Chinese Catholics were told to better integrate into the country, adapt to society and benefit the people, according to the official news agency Xinhua.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/1171589/top-official-urges-independent-chinese-catholic-church



Quote by King Henry VIII to the Speaker and a deputation of Parliament regarding his role as Supreme Head of the English Church:

"Well-beloved subjects, we thought that the clergy of our realm had been our subjects wholly, but now we have well perceived that they be but half our subjects; yea, and scarce our subjects; for all the prelates at their consecration make an oath to the Pope clean contrary to the oath that they make to us, so that they seem to be his subjects, and not ours".