Vatican throws out China bishops

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=b8e6ad40a5b66583&cat=c08dd24cec417021

The Vatican is excommunicating two bishops who were illegally ordained by China's breakaway Catholic Church.
Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "deep displeasure" over the appointments.

The rift comes as Beijing and the Vatican are engaged in talks with the aim of re-establishing relations, which were severed more than 50 years ago.

snip...

There are an estimated 10 million Catholics in China, divided between the officially tolerated Patriotic Church, and an underground church loyal to Rome.

The Chinese Church does not recognise the Vatican's power to appoint bishops, causing tensions between the two sides
more...
This line kinda says it all
"Secret talks have been taking place in recent months between envoys from both sides"
Obviously Pope Benedict didn't like what he heard...
edgar cayce predicted China would convert to Christianity not Catholicism... Interesting twist of fate...

doesn't like the outcome.

so he's finding out the chinese can ''play'' the game?

always a rude awakening when those doggone barbarians exert their own willpower.

Did the Pope never study the history of the Anglican Communion? Ironically in many other countries a right-wing oligarchy more or less dictates which candidates would make acceptable bishops and the Vatican is content to go along. My diocese has a local man who's served as auxiliary bishop for years but never been appointed to the top position because his views are too radical. (He really believes in the teachings of Jesus.) Instead we've had bishop after bishop appointed from outside because they were "safe". Everyone looks forward to hearing the auxiliary speak. The other bishops are merely given a quiet audience and their words are forgotten 10 minute later.

...Oh, yeah. You don't DO that little thing any more. :shrug:

If the Chinese "Catholic" Church doesn't recognize the Vatican, are they really Catholics?

but they are not part of the Roman Catholic Church.

The pope is still head of that.

But it isn't part of the Roman Catholic Church.

Stephen Colbert covered this story last night. Using his persona, he criticized the Church for not "going along" with China. After all, our own country dare not mention actions of the Chinese government that violate American "principles"--because we owe them too much money. He urged Benedict to cut China some slack.

Of course, Colbert is Catholic. The bit was actually complimentary to the Church--for those who can decipher Colbert-speak.

You say "nope" and then agree with me. Any church can appoint their own bishops or whatever. The Roman Catholic Church can do so as well.

Someone else asked if the Chinese Catholics could still be Roman Catholics if they ignored the Vatican.

Nope, I said. Yes, I agree with you!

Christianity includes Catholicism, so good job. Catholics believe in Christ, and are therefore Christians. Perhaps you meant protestants. And even that would be interesting, wouldn't it? Will China really allow multiple denominations? That would ultimately lead to a surplus in Christians in addition to allowing individuals to think for themselves, and apply those thought processes when deciding which denomination to include oneself. Hmm.

Jesus Christ... and the Chineese church believes that just Pope Benedict wanted them to be Catholics...

Edgar Caycee predicted that China would turn to Christianity and he is right... He didn't predict that they would be Roman Catholics and he was again right...

Where the Vatican and the govenrments both claimed the right to appoint the bishops.

Julie

Back around 1540 the Jesuits were making a lot of converts. They (the Jesuits)had too much respect for Chinese customs for Rome's taste though, so Rome pulled them out. (Can't have Catholics honoring their dead ancestors or wearing non-European garb or not praying in Latin!)I wonder what history would have been like if the Jesuits had stayed?

As much as I will never be a catholic, I support the Pope here for this reason:

The roman catholic church is an international organization that expects it's priests to follow a certain doctrine, regardless of what government the priests have to live under. When you have a brutal, repressive government like that in China, well, do you want your church identified with something like that? The church has a responsibility to show that the way of Jesus is very different from the way of Mao, and to draw a clear distinction between them.