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China arrests Vatican-approved bishop, priests, seminarians
Arrest of Bishop Zhang is seen as part of a renewed crackdown on the underground church in the communist country
Updated: May 24, 2021 02:19 PM GMT
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A Month of Mary procession is held in Shantou in Guangdong province in May 2017. Chinese authorities have been clamping down on such activities. (Photo: UCA News)
Authorities in northern China have arrested a Vatican-appointed Catholic bishop, his seven priests, and an unspecified number of seminarians in what is seen as part of a renewed crackdown on the underground Catholic Church in the communist country.
Police arrested 63-year-old Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu of Xinxiang Diocese in Henan province on May 21, a day after they detained the priests and seminarians for allegedly violating the country’s repressive new regulations on religious affairs.
May 24, 2021
CWN Editor s Note: Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu of Xinxiang and 10 priests of his diocese were arrested late last week, and are being held for “political sessions” with Communist Party officials. They are accused of criminal activity: conducting religious activities without government approval, and refusing to enlist in the government-backed Patriotic Church.
Bishop Zhang is recognized by the Holy See but not by the government. Under the terms of the secret agreement between the Vatican and Beijing, the Holy See recognized several bishops who had been appointed by the government. But Beijing did not reciprocate by recognizing bishops of the “underground” Church.
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