Vatican worries about ‘forcibly removed’ bishop in China

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican expressed “grave concern” on Monday for a Chinese bishop who it says was “forcibly removed” from his office several weeks ago and whose whereabouts are unknown.

The matter is the latest episode in a wider, decades-old dispute between the Vatican and China’s communist authorities over papal authority to appoint bishops.

“The Holy See is observing with grave concern the personal situation of Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou, forcibly removed from his episcopal see some time ago,” the Vatican said in a written statement. “The diocesan Catholic community and his relatives have no news or reasons for his removal, nor do they know where he is being held,” the statement said.

Shao was appointed by the pope in September and posted to Wenzhou, an eastern city which has a large Christian community.

Last week, a Vatican-affiliated missionary news service said Shao’s disappearance is believed to be part of an attempt to persuade him to join the Communist-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association church.

Chinese authorities don’t recognize Shao’s appointment by the Vatican.

Last week, Germany’s ambassador to China said the bishop appears to have been forced by Chinese authorities to move to unknown locations four times over the past year. The diplomat called for restoration of the bishop’s “full freedom of movement.”