There is a discrepancy between the Vatican and the Chinese Communists on when the bishop's appointment took place, leading observers to believe that the Holy See is once again playing second fiddle to Beijing.
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin was reportedly ‘ordered to take clothes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter,’ suggesting ‘that his situation is not promising and that he will probably be held for a long time.’
The organizers of the synod ‘refer to the magisterium, not of the past 20 centuries, not of the many recent popes, but only of the reigning pontiff,’ Cardinal Zen said.
‘Evangelization is really to help people to understand the love of God … without the agenda of turning them into Catholics,’ said Cardinal-designate Stephen Chow, echoing Pope Francis.
Speaking to LifeSiteNews in Rome, soon-to-be Cardinal Stephen Chow fielded questions about the Sino-Vatican deal and argued Cardinal Zen supported him.
The conviction of Father Joseph Yang Xiaoming is yet another act of persecution on the part of the Chinese Communist Party, which has increased its crackdown on underground Catholics since its signing of a secret deal with the Vatican.