BREAKING NEWS: Chinese police seize two priests in Mutanjiangby Bernardo Cervellera
Rome (AsiaNews) - Chinese police seized two priests today in the city of Mutanjiang (Heilongjiang). The two clergymen - Fr Shaoyun Quan, 41, and Fr Jianyou Cao, 43 - had just celebrated Mass. After their arrest at 10.30 am, they were taken to an unknown location.
Fr Quan, the parish priest, and Fr Cao, his deputy, serve underground communities that are not recognised by the government. They perform their duties at locations that are not registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Under existing rules, religious activities outside government control are illegal. Anyone involved in such actions can be arrested for "criminal" activities.
Still, local Catholics are stunned by the violence of the two clergymen's arrest. Although they are underground priests, their activities were known to police, and tolerated as long as they kept a "low profile". Indeed, the two carried out their duties, including evangelisation, "peacefully" and "quietly" in the past few months.
Lately, some observers and the international press have reported with some confidence that China would soon start talks with the Holy See over diplomatic relations.
However, in recent statements, Chinese authorities reiterated their intention to proceed with electing and appointing bishops without papal mandate or consideration for underground communities.
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