DECLARATION ON UPCOMING EPISCOPAL ORDINATIONS IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Regarding various questions made of the Holy See Press Office on news of the upcoming episcopal ordinations in the Popular Republic of China, the following clarifications must be made:

"As is well known, an episcopal ordination conferred without apostolic mandate represents a profound injury to ecclesial communion and a grave violation of canonical discipline.

"The gravity of such a gesture, which touches the very constitution of the Church, explains why Canon Law lays down special severe penalties, both for the consecrating bishop and those who receive such consecration.

"Episcopal ordinations conferred without communion with Peter's Successor place further obstacles on the troubled path towards normalization of the life of the Church in China and of relations between the Popular Republic of China and the Holy See, so desired by Catholics the world over.

"This situation can only give rise to incredulity in the face of declarations by Chinese politicians who have recently spoken of a desire for dialogue with the Holy See."

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