UCA News
Contribute

China set for first public ordination of bishop since 2012

Ceremony seen as possible benchmark for state of Vatican-China relations
China set for first public ordination of bishop since 2012

This photo taken on May 24 shows worshippers walking past the shadow of a cross outside a Catholic Church in China. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)

Published: July 31, 2015 03:42 AM GMT
Updated: August 06, 2015 06:10 AM GMT

When Father Joseph Zhang Yinlin is ordained bishop of Anyang in Henan province on August 4, he will become the first publicly ordained Chinese bishop in three years and the first since the Vatican and China restarted its dialogue in June 2014.

The last public ordination occurred on July 7, 2012, when Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin was installed as an auxiliary in Shanghai. Bishop Ma immediately resigned his post in protest against the government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and remains under house arrest.

Fr Zhang will also be the first Chinese bishop to be ordained publicly since Pope Francis was elected to the papacy in March 2013.

The ordination, with papal approval, initially was planned for July 29. The diocese decided to postpone the date to Aug. 4 to coincide with the feast day of St John Vianney, the patron saint for priests.

In an interview, Fr Zhang told ucanews.com that he could not confirm which bishops would preside at the ordination.

“We sent out invitations to several bishops but cannot confirm who is attending,” he said.

The presence of an illicit bishop not recognized by the Vatican is a way for the Communist Party to show its control of the Church. If an illicit bishop plays a role in the ordination, this could be a sign of the state of China-Vatican relations, sources said.

At least three bishops are required to be present for an Episcopal ordination. In the case of China, at least one of the bishops present needs to be Vatican-approved.

Bishop Ma said publicly after his ordination: “It is inconvenient for me to serve the Catholic Patriotic Association.” Since then, he has been under house arrest at Sheshan Seminary in Shanghai.

An illicit bishop participated in the ordination.

The Catholic Patriotic Association is a government-sanctioned body designed to control the Catholic Church in China.

Fr Zhang, 44, was elected a bishop on April 29. He was previously approved for ordination by the Vatican.

In China, most bishop elections are arranged by the bishops’ conference, which is composed of bishops who have registered with the government. However, many bishop candidates receive papal approval beforehand. Most voters support the Vatican’s choice. Those who don’t support the Holy See usually reflect their disagreement through abstaining.

Church members across China also complain that government officials manipulate the election, as the process involves not only priests, but also nuns, seminarians and lay leaders, who make up half the voters.

Another Vatican-approved candidate for bishop, Father Cosmos Ji Chengyi of Zhumadian in the same province of Henan, was also elected in April. But a date for his ordination is still unknown.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia