The fate of the Bishop of Xinxiang remains unknown.

Newsroom (02/08/2021 8:46 PM, Gaudium Press) – Some days ago, the new bishop of Pinglinag (Gansu) was consecrated – in a ceremony presided over by the Bishop of Kunming (Yunnan). The latter is president of the China Conference of Bishops and vice-president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association of the so-called “Independent Church.” While the ordination was taking place, Father Joseph Liu from the diocese of Mindong (Fujian) was being tortured.

Fr. Liu was arrested by the police for refusing to join the “Independent Church.”

Brutal torture

According to AsiaNews, the priest suffered shocking violence: “After 10 hours of torture, six policemen took his hand and forced him to sign. The persecution of Catholic religious does not stop.”

The incident indicates how the supposed changes of the Chinese Communist Party towards the Church are merely superficial. The Communist Party instead seeks to have even greater control over the so-called “religious personnel.”

The fate of Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu, bishop of Xinxiang (Henan), arrested last May  is unknown. He was arrested along with along with seminarians and 10 priests. The seminarians have been released.

With AsiaNews information

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj