Fr Paul Lei Shiyin was ordained bishop at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, in the Leshan diocese, China with the permission of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CCPA), but without a papal mandate.
The ordination took place in the presence of about 1,000 guests including government officials and seven Vatican-approved bishops, and is the first ordination since the Vatican issued a declaration of excommunication on those taking part in such illicit ordinations.
Bishop Johan Fang Xingyao of Linyi, president of the government-sanctioned CCPA, was the main celebrant.
Another ordination authorised by the Pope was scheduled to take place in Handan, but was blocked by the Chinese Patrotic Catholic Association, and the ordinand, Fr Sun seized by the police. ucanews.com reports that Sun is yet to return to the diocese.
‘Copy’ Bishop Lei, 48, told ucanews.com he can personally obey the Church unconditionally but he also has to consider the fundamental interests of the local Church.
“I wrote a letter and answered enquiries from Rome a year ago. I did what I needed to do and have waited for a long time,” he said.
The local Church cannot give up the opportunity of evangelization. “I hope you can understand that we have to consider the Church’s survival and development. We have no way out and cannot sidestep this issue but must work according to the reality,” he stressed.
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