The head of Hong Kong's Roman Catholic diocese Joseph Zen says the Va.ti.can. should put diplomatic talks with China on hold because of Beijing's appointment of bishops without approval from the Holy See.
In an interview with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, Cardinal Joseph Zen said the Va.ti.can. is expected to make a strong statement soon about the matter. He was quoted as saying that dialogue cannot continue \"because people will think we are prepared to surrender.\"
China's state-controlled Catholic church ordained a new bishop (formally Father Ma Yingling) Sunday and says it will ordain another one (Liu Xinhong) soon.
Catholics in China are officially allowed to worship only at churches run by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, but millions belong to underground. Roman Catholic churches loyal to the Va.ti.can..
China and the Va.ti.can. have recently been working to improve ties. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1951.