U.S. Calls for Release of Chinese Bishop

WASHINGTON, DC, Sep. 19, 00 (CWNews.com) - The US State Department on Monday called on the Communist government of China to release an elderly Catholic bishop allegedly arrested last week.

The State Department said it was «deeply disturbed» at reports of the arrest of Bishop Zeng Jingmu, even if it could not confirm them independently. «We call on the Chinese government to release Bishop Zeng immediately and to permit him to continue his functions as a priest,» the department added.

Bishop Zeng's arrest was reported this week by the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation which also listed the recent arrests and beatings of other priests, bishops, and laypeople.

The Communist Chinese government requires Christians to worship only in state-controlled associations including the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican or the Pope. Many Catholics worship in illegal, underground churches following only bishops appointed by the Pope.

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs