Top Hong Kong official attends Mass said by illicit Chinese bishop

Published: 2006-06-08

HONG KONG (CNS) -- The Catholic chief executive of Hong Kong has attended a Mass celebrated by the bishop of Kunming, China, who does not have papal approval, raising questions of propriety and a possible breach of Vatican guidelines. Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who attends Mass daily in Hong Kong, went to Mass June 5 in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province in southern China, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming celebrated the Mass at Sacred Heart Church. The ordaining and assisting bishops at Bishop Ma's April 30 ordination have Vatican recognition, so his ordination is valid, but it was not approved by Pope Benedict XVI, so it is considered illicit. Father Joachim Yue Tiande, parish priest in Kunming, told UCA News June 6 that Tsang and his wife, Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei, were accompanied by officials of the business forum that Tsang was attending. Tsang and his wife received Communion from a priest, not from the bishop.

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