” “”A serious wound for the unity of the Church”, which is subject to “a divinis” excommunication, and a “serious breach of religious freedom”. These are the words of the director of the pres room of the Holy See, Joaquin Navarro Valls, to define the two Episcopal ordinations of priests Giuseppe Ma Yinglin and Giuseppe Liu Xinhong, that were made on April 30th and May 2nd, respectively, by the patriotic Church. “The Holy Father reads a statement published today learnt the news with deep grief, since an act that is so significant for the life of the Church as an Episcopal ordination has been made in both cases without respecting the requirements of the communion with the Pope. It is a serious wound for the unity of the Church”, which is subject to “serious canonical sanctions”, i.e. “a divinis” excommunication, as laid down by canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law. According to the information received, said the Vatican spokesman, “bishops and priests underwent strong pressure and threats by bodies outside the Church, for them to take part in Episcopal ordinations that, as they lack the Papal mandate, are illegitimate and also against their conscience. Several bishops refused to comply with such pressures, while some could only suffer them with great inner sorrow. Such events cause wounds, not just within the Catholic community but also within the consciences”. The Holy See thinks therefore “this is a serious breach of religious freedom, even they speciously tried to present the two Episcopal ordinations as a proper act to provide priests to some vacant dioceses”. (to be continued)
