The Election of Bishops
Dec 5, 2006: One one side:
The church in China democratically consulting priests/religious/people before
selecting a bishop (and then advising Vatican of selection before consecration);
On the other side: the Vatican, undemocratically avoiding
consultation (in most/all? countries) before appointing bishops.
The Vatican is sort of saying: if we let the church in China appoint its own
bishops, then we have to allow the same thing in
USA/Europe/Africa....everywhere....no way!
So...the present disagreement over appointment of bishops is not so much between
the Vatican and China, as between the Vatican and the rest of the world......can even say it's between the Vatican and Vatican Council II (which
called for a democratic consultation process in selection of bishops)
With this as a background (& see articles below) - I again can't help
but notice the reasonableness and moderate language in this article from today's
news:
Vatican's criticisms
"unreasonable" says China
May 13, 2006: Summary re recent election of three bishops in China - note the moderate language
| May 2, 2006 - spot the differences | |
| Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia: "the Catholic Church is free to appoint its own bishops in Hong Kong, unlike on mainland China" |
South
China Morning Post, May 2, 2006, B22: Bring on democracy, (Cardinal Zen) thunders at Beijing from every pulpit and podium....Let Hong Kong choose its own chief executive. But when the priests, nuns and parish representatives (in) Kunming then elect their own bishop....it's sabotage (the cardinal) protests. The choice ought to be made by the Pope along. The central governing authority must have absolute sovereignty in such matters (Jake van der Kamp) |
August 19, 2002 Richard McBrien
August 12, 2002 Richard McBrien
August 5, 2002 Richard McBrien
February 14, 2000 Richard McBrien - re election of bishops in China
c.f. April 8, 2004 Cardinal Martini: The Church should be more democratic
ThinkTank File: The Church