‘Underground’ bishop appointed to state-backed role in central China
- Jin Lugang was inaugurated as coadjutor bishop for Nanyang diocese in Henan, according to state media
- It comes after an agreement was struck between Beijing and the Vatican in September
A bishop from China’s “underground” Catholic church is slated to step up as the official state-backed clergyman for a diocese in central China, state media reported, amid a thaw in relations between Beijing and the Holy See.
China’s estimated 10 million Catholics are legally supposed to attend only churches governed by a state-controlled body with clergy appointed by the Communist Party. But many worship in so-called unregistered “underground churches” led by bishops loyal to the Vatican.
An agreement struck in September on the appointment of bishops has paved the way for a rapprochement between Beijing and the Vatican after diplomatic ties were cut off in 1951. It also gives both sides a say in appointing Catholic bishops in China.
Jin Lugang was inaugurated as coadjutor bishop for the Nanyang diocese in Henan, central China, Global Times reported on Friday, and will assist 98-year-old diocesan bishop Zhu Baoyu until his retirement.
“I think it is a good thing,” said Anthony Lam, a Chinese Catholic church expert at Hong Kong’s Holy Spirit Study Centre, noting there were about 40 vacancies to be filled in dioceses across China.
Though the Holy See has appointed at least 20 clergymen to fill these spots, the Chinese government has not yet approved them, he said.
“They are too nervous,” he said, referring to the local governments now tasked with vetting the appointees. “To some extent, it’s their recommendation to the central government that these people are reliable, you can trust him, he will not do anything harmful to the government.”
That was why some government officials had taken a cautious approach and were holding some cases for long periods of time, he said.
