Chinese bishop missing since 1997 spotted in hospital

Published: 2003-11-20

HONG KONG (CNS) -- An underground Chinese bishop who has not been heard from or seen since his arrest in 1997 has reportedly undergone medical treatment in a hospital. In a Nov. 19 statement, the U.S.-based Cardinal Kung Foundation said it received information that on or around Nov. 15, Bishop Su Zhimin of Baoding was taken to the officers' ward of Baoding Central Hospital for an eye operation and for heart problems, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. According to the report, the bishop was heavily guarded by about 20 plainclothes officers, including Jia Ruiqi, who holds a high rank in the Boading public security bureau. The bishop's name was not entered in the hospital's records. Bishop Pan Deshi of Baoding and a priest in Baoding city, both of whom are affiliated with the government-recognized church, told UCA News Nov. 20 that they had not heard any news about Bishop Su. They also said they had no idea about his present situation.

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