Scritto da: benefan 04/05/2006 17.52
[This adds to what Teresa just posted on the subject.]
Pope Benedict excommunicates 2 Chinese bishops
5/4/2006
Catholic Online
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI on May 4 excommunicated two Chinese
This article is clearer and definitely shows the strong reaction from the Vatican, yet I can't help wondering whether it is really 'excommunication' taken on the bishops because from the official statement that I've seen from the vatican website, it didn't clearly say so, although it did mention the violation of canon law which should result in excommunication.
Whether this 'punishment' is been officially taken or not, is not clear to me, except from this article.
The official statement has said that both ordained and the ordaining were doing it under pressure, so should 'excommunication' be muted upon them? Besides, over the years, there are a number of ordained bishops who were not approved by the Holy See, so are they already been excommunicated as well? If not, how can the Holy See do so right now to the new illegal bishops??
I do hope that any actions on the part of the Holy See will not create even more divisions and more suffering to an already suffering Church in China...