Death of elderly Chinese bishop leaves young priests to manage on own

Published: 2005-01-13

HONG KONG (CNS) -- The death of the elderly bishop of a diocese in China's northern Shanxi province has left a dozen young priests to manage on their own. Bishop Teddeus Guo Yingong of Datong, who was recognized by the government-approved church and had papal approval, died Jan. 4 at the age of 87. He had been ordained bishop of the diocese in 1990, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Father Liu Junhong, Datong vicar general, has been in charge of the diocese since Bishop Guo's death. He told UCA News Jan. 10 that a successor had not yet been chosen. Successors for government-approved bishops are normally chosen by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Bishop Guo's funeral Mass was held Jan. 12, and his body was buried in the church cemetery the same day, Father Liu said. In 2000 Bishop Guo handed over the diocesan administration to then-vicar general Father Zhang Baoping, who died suddenly in September 2003 at the age of 35. Father Liu, now 34, was appointed vicar general in April 2004. The diocese has 11 other priests, of whom the eldest is 41.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .