Vatican to recognize four Chinese bishops - are better relations coming?

Pope will at least be able to veto Chinese appointments.

The Vatican has agreed to recognize at least four bishops appointed by the Chinese government. This is a historic moment, but it comes as the Church continues to face persecution in China. The Vatican is hopeful that such persecution will soon end as the two entities cooperate.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The Vatican will recognize four bishops appointed by the Chinese government in exchange for the right of the pope to veto future appointments chosen by the Chinese people. The decision represents a compromise to how bishops are appointed in China.

Until now, the Chinese government insisted on its right to appoint all bishops. At the same time, The Church continues to insist on its right to appoint bishops.

There are 10 million Catholics in China and most of their bishops, about 30, are underground because they are not recognized by the government. The Chinese government is officially an atheistic regime.

Four government-appointed bishops will now be recognized by the Vatican. They are, Joseph Ma Yinglin, Guo Jincai, Yue Fusheng, and Tu Shihua.

The agreement allows the pope to veto appointments made by the priests in each diocese on the condition of ethics. For example, two bishops recognized by the government have ethical problems. One has a girlfriend and the other a child. 7*634;) ;89.05(

About 30 of the 100 diocese in China have no bishops. Another 30 or so have elderly bishops who will soon need to be replaced.

The Chinese government and the Vatican do not have normal diplomatic relations and the Chinese government does not recognize the sovereignty of the Vatican. The Vatican does have relations with Taiwan which also anger the Chinese.

There are no indications that this is about to change.

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