The Chinese government has reportedly continued tightening its grip on Christianity, influencing the nation's two government-controlled Catholic organizations to agree to ordain bishops "under the leadership of the government."
UCA News reported that at a recent coalition meeting, the bishops' conference and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association also agreed to convert unregistered clergy to the open church.
There have been tensions between the Vatican and the government-controlled Catholic church in China due to the practice of government-elected bishops, which has been going on for years.
Back in 2010 the Vatican said such moves "manifest a repressive attitude with regard to the exercise of religious liberty, which it was hoped had been consigned to the past in present-day China."...
Larry Pan | 7/4/2009
