(image source:The Telegraph)
BY GARY COTTON
The Vatican announced the excommunication of a bishop in China. The reason?
The Vatican says he was never a bishop to begin with. CNN reports.
“Pope Benedict XVI ‘deplored’ the ‘illicit’ ordination of the Rev. Joseph Huang Bingzhang and expelled him from the church because he was ‘ordained without papal mandate...”’
According to the Guardian -- Bingzhang isn’t the first bishop named without the pope’s blessing.
“[Bingzhang] was the third such ordination pushed through since November by the state's religious authorities, who have also reportedly coerced Chinese bishops to attend the ceremonies.”
Like many others in the international press -- a writer for the Telegraph observes -- this is just the latest in an ongoing power struggle between the Catholic Church and the Chinese government.
“The Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party are engaged in an increasingly bitter battle for control over the growing number of Catholics in China. While around six million are members of the official, state-run church, it is estimated that another eight million worship in underground churches loyal to the Pope.”
So what does the Chinese government have to say? According to Rome Reports, Chinese officials argue they’re well within their rights.
“The new spokesperson for the Church of China has responded saying ‘the ordination is a demonstration of religious liberty in China.’ He said by choosing their own bishops they are following ‘decades of tradition and independence.’”
Follow Newsy on Twitter @Newsy_Videos to get video news on your stream.
Transcript by Newsy.
