Source: Associated Press
By NICOLE WINFIELD
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A bishop in China’s underground Catholic Church has reportedly been detained, just as the Vatican has been laying the groundwork for him to step aside as part of a long-sought deal with Beijing over bishop nominations.
The AsiaNews agency, which closely covers the Catholic Church in China, said Mindong Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin and his chancellor were taken away Monday, at the start of Holy Week. AsiaNews noted that Guo had disappeared for several weeks last year around Easter as well.
AsiaNews quoted locals as saying that Guo had refused to concelebrate Easter services with the state-recognized official bishop of Mindong, Monsignor Zhan Silu.
Categories: Catholic Church, China, The Muslim Times, Vatican