11/19/2010

Cardinals Talk Religious Freedom Amid China Flap

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Pope Benedict XVI delivers his message to cardinals he summoned for a day of reflection at the Vatican, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, the day before a ceremony to create 24 new cardinals. The top agenda, religious freedom, grew remarkably timely given China's planned ordination Saturday of a bishop who doesn't have the Pope's approval. The Vatican warned China that efforts at reconciliation would be set back if bishops loyal to the pope were forced to attend the ordination. The Vatican said such actions would constitute "grave violations of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.''

The world's cardinals met Friday at the Vatican to discuss religious freedom, sex abuse by clergy and other issues amid a new dispute with China over an illicit ordination that threatens delicate relations between the two.

Pope Benedict XVI summoned the cardinals for a day of reflection before a ceremony Saturday to create 24 new cardinals. The top agenda item, religious freedom, was remarkably timely given China's planned ordination Saturday of a bishop who doesn't have the pope's approval.

The Vatican warned China on Thursday that efforts at reconciliation would be set back if bishops loyal to the pope were forced to attend the ordination. The Vatican said such actions would constitute "grave violations of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience."

Liu Bainian, vice chairman for China's state-backed church, the Catholic Patriotic Association, said Friday the ordination was going ahead but that the presence of other bishops at the ceremony was voluntary.

As he arrived Friday for the Vatican meeting, Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken advocate of democracy and religious freedom in China, sharply rebuked China for proceeding with the ordination.

Read more at NPR

Nov 19, 2010 10:52:29 AM | Current Affairs, Religion

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