Chinese bishops approve Beijing priest elected to head diocese

Published: 2007-09-14

HONG KONG (CNS) -- The government-sanctioned Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China has approved Father Joseph Li Shan of the Beijing Diocese as bishop-elect of the diocese covering the country's capital. Anthony Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, told the Asian church news agency UCA News Sept. 12 that the conference recently had given its approval to the 42-year-old priest. A group of priests, nuns and laypeople of the Beijing Diocese elected Father Li bishop July 16, nearly three months after Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan of Beijing died April 20. Bishop-elect Li is generally recognized by all diocesan priests and laypeople for his spirituality, theological acumen and pastoral experience, Liu said, adding that the bishop-elect "shows consideration for his fellow priests and faithful." According to the diocesan foreign affairs office, the episcopal ordination is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21; however, the diocese has not yet confirmed the date, an office staffer told UCA News Sept. 13.

Copyright (c) 2007 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .