Chinese officials arrest bishop in Hebei, says U.S.-based foundation

Published: 2007-08-23

STAMFORD, Conn. (CNS) -- Chinese officials have arrested a bishop who is not part of the government-recognized Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said the U.S.-based Cardinal Kung Foundation. Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding in China's Hebei province was arrested by the Chinese Public Security and Religious Bureau the morning of Aug. 23, the foundation reported. A statement from the foundation said it did not know the reason for the bishop's arrest, but added that "in the last five days there was a marked increase in the number of security police for putting Bishop Jia under strict surveillance 24 hours a day, and there were police vehicles parking outside the bishop's residence." A priest and a layperson also were arrested and interrogated for eight hours before being released, the foundation reported. The foundation, a human rights organization that advocates for the Catholic communities in China not registered with the Chinese government, added that since the release of Pope Benedict XVI's June 30 letter to Chinese Catholics calling for unity between the registered and unregistered communities "Bishop Jia was told several times by the religious bureau that he was not allowed to publicly support and promulgate" the letter.

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