Sinicization: All religions will uphold an independent principle and follow the leadership of the Communist Party. http://www.asianews.it/vatican asks legitimate Bishops to step aside in favour of illegitamate ones.
Last December Msgr. Peter Zhuang Jianjian of Shanhou (Guangdong) was forced to go to Beijing where a "foreign prelate" from the Vatican asked him to leave his See. He was to be replaced by illicit Patriotic Church Bishop Joseph Huang Bingzhang. He had received the same request last October.
Guangzhou (Asia News) The Holy See has asked Bishop Peter Zhuang Jianjian of Shantou in southern Guandong province to retire in order to be replaced by an illicit Bishop.
Another Vatican appointed Bishop was asked to downgrade himself as the Assistant of an illicit Bishop.
This is the second time in three months that the Holy See made the resignation demand on Bishop Zhuang, who was secretly ordained in 2006, with Vatican approval. However, he is only recognized as a priest by the Chinese government.
On the other hand, the Chinese government is in full support of the excommunicated Bishop Huang Bingzhang, a long time member in the National People's Congress which is China's parliament.
A letter dated 26 October demanded the 88 year old Bishop to resign to give way to the excommunicated Bishop whom the Holy See is going to recognize.
Bishop Zhuang, at that time, refused to obey and said he would rather "carry his cross" for being disobedient a church source in Guangdong who asked not to be named told Asia News.
In the latest incident Bishop Zhuang was escorted to Beijing 18-22 December from his southern diocese to meet senior officials from the central government and a delegation from the Vatican, according to the church source.
Before the trip, the officials began to monitor Bishop Zhuang on 11 December. Know that the bishop was in poor health, and that the weather in Beijing was freezing, they still rejected his request not to go to northern China, and, sent a Doctor along. A total of seven local government officials went along with Bishop Zhuang and no priest was allowed to follow him the source said.
Staying at the Hugyosi Hotel in Beijing, Bishop Zhuang was taken sightseeing on 19 December and then to the headquarters of the Chinese Catholic Patriot Association (CCPA) and the Bishops conference the next day. Here he met with Bishops Ma Yinglin, shen Bin and Guo Jincai, the President, Vice President, and, Secretary General of the Bishops Conference respectively, the source continued.
The CCPA and Bishops' conference, as well as Ma and Guo, two illicit Bishops, are not yet recognized by the Holy See.
On Dec21, Bishop Zhuang was taken to the Diaoyutal State Guesthouse. He was first greeted by three officials from the State Administration for Religious Affairs. Then he was led by Father Huang Baoguo, a chinese priest who is serving at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, to meet with a foreign Bishop and three foreign priests from the Vatican.
The foreign Bishop explained the aim of their travel to China. It was to accomplish reaching an understanding with the Chinese government, and, to let Bishop Huang become the legitimate Bishop of the Diocese the source said.
The Holy See delegation demanded that Bishop zhuang retire as he was asked in the letter dated October 26. There was one added term which was supposed to console the elderly Bishop.
He could nominate three priests for Bishop Huang to pick one as his vicar general the source said.
"Bishop Zhuang could not help his tears on hearing the demand" the source said, adding that "it was meaningless to appoint a vicar general, who is still a priest, that Bishop Huang could remove at anytime.
Some Bishops in Southern China opposed the idea of hastily recognizing Bishop Huang, who was officially excommunicated by the Holy See in 2011 for having received illicit episcopal ordination without papal mandate. "I did not know the outcome but this is a bad solution" he said.
Asia News also asked the Vatican for confirmation of the situation in shantou. A representive familiair withthe China dossier said that the letter Msgr. Zhuang received was just a request for opinion on the illicit Bishop Msgr Huang.
Another figure has kept silent. Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong.
Cardinal Zen confirmed the information obtained by Asia News.
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