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All priests and nuns in the Diocese of Shanghai have been required to attend compulsory “study classes,” the Union of Catholic Asian News reported.
The report quoted observers as saying that authorities imposed the classes in response to Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin’s controversial ordination in July.
The 45-year-old prelate quit the Catholic Patriotic Association at his ordination on July 7. Since then, he has been in “retreat” at the Sheshan Seminary with a “certain degree of freedom,” sources told ucanews.com
The report, quoting sources, said the prelate’s recognition violated regulations in relation to episcopal ordinations.
The report added that some 80 diocesan priests and 80 nuns of the Our Lady of Presentation Congregation were divided into three groups to take three-days of classes at the Shanghai Institute of Socialism lasting 12 hours each day.
The first classes began on September 10 and the final ones concluded last week.
Church sources said university professors gave lectures aimed at strengthening their sense of duty toward the country, law and the independent Church principle.
Among the subjects included in the classes are state-religion relations, the Communist Party’s religious concepts, policies and regulations, the socialist core value system and economic development in China.
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