Underground Bishop Zhang, 90, dies in China

Published: 2005-10-18

HONG KONG (CNS) -- Underground Bishop Petrus Zhang Boren of Hanyang died of heart ailments Oct. 12. The bishop, also known by the name Chang Bai Ren, was 90. His funeral was Oct. 15 in his native Zhangjiazhuang village, near Xiantao city, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Both Hanyang Diocese and Xiantao are in Hubei province. A Catholic source in mainland China who requested anonymity told UCA News Oct. 13 that Bishop Zhang was "a holy man" who had converted many people -- especially those he exorcised -- through his enthusiasm and spirit of evangelization. When UCA News spoke with Bishop Zhang in 1998, he told stories of how he drove "evil spirits" away from sufferers, some of whom later were baptized. A church source in Hong Kong told UCA News Oct. 13 that Bishop Zhang had lived in the government-recognized church for a period of time in the 1980s. Later, he decided to return to Xuwan village, near Xiantao, to live with underground Catholics until he died.

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