Chinese Bishop Liang dies after years of deteriorating health

Published: 2007-10-11

HONG KONG (CNS) -- Bishop John Baptist Liang Xisheng of Kaifeng died Sept. 23 at the age of 84, the Asian church news agency UCA News reported Oct. 11. A church source who requested anonymity told UCA News that the bishop, who never registered with the Chinese government, suffered poor health after a car accident in 2002. His health deteriorated even more after a fall earlier this year, the source said. Bishop Liang is the ninth bishop in mainland China, and the fourth from the underground or nonregistered Catholic community, to die this year. Underground Catholics, who refuse to register with China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, reject the authority of government-approved administrative structures over the church.

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