State-Authorised Religion

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/04/china.vatican/index.html

Pope excommunicates China bishops

Thursday, May 4, 2006 Posted: 1444 GMT (2244 HKT)

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Vatican says it has excommunicated two Chinese bishops consecrated earlier this week to China's government-approved Catholic church, which is not recognized by the Holy See.

The statement from Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls on Thursday called the unapproved ordination of bishops Giuseppe Ma Yinglin and Giuseppe Liu Xinhong "a severe wound to the unity of the Church" and said Pope Benedict XVI was disappointed.

"The Holy Father learned of the news with profound sorrow, because such a relevant act for the life of the Church, as is an Episcopal ordination, was carried out in both cases without respecting the need of communion with the pope," the statement said.