FM: Criticism on bishops ordination unfounded
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-07 15:52
China on Sunday regrets the Vatican's criticism of its ordination of two
Catholic bishops, saying the accusations were "unfounded".
"The Vatican's criticism of the Chinese Catholic churches were unfounded and
were in disregard to their history and reality," said Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Liu Jianchao.
"The Chinese government regrets the criticism from the Vatican on the
matter," Liu said.
On Thursday, the Vatican's spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls criticized China
for ordaining two Catholic bishops and threatened to punish the bishops ordained
and the believers who participated in the process.
"A spokesman for the State Administration of Religious Affairs had fully
expounded the stance of the Chinese government on the matter on Saturday," Liu
said.
He said the Chinese government pursues "consistent" and "clear" principles in
dealing with China-Vatican relations.
The Vatican must terminate its so-called diplomatic links with Taiwan, and it
should not interfere in China's internal affairs, including any intervention
under the pretext of religious affairs, said Liu.
"The Chinese government is always sincere and has made unremitting efforts in
improving its ties with the Vatican," the spokesman said.
China is willing to have constructive dialogues with the Vatican and seek
ways to improve China-Vatican relations, Liu said.
A spokesman for the State Administration of Religious Affairs on Saturday
defended the ordination of the two Catholic bishops by Chinese believers, saying
the Vatican's criticism on China in this regard "makes no sense."
Also on Saturday, the Catholic Patriotic Association of China and Chinese
Catholic Bishops College issued a statement, saying that the selection and
ordination of the bishops fully reflected the wish of priests and believers and
strictly followed Catholic traditions.
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