(2019.4.9 カトリック・あい)
A recent image of Bishop Guo Xijin as seen in his residence. (Photo supplied)
中国政府・共産党は昨年9月のバチカンとの司教任命に関する暫定合意後も、”地下教会”への規制を強めているが、”地下教会”の司教に対し、間もなく始まる復活祭までの聖週間の木曜日に行われる聖香油ミサを捧げるのは「政府の政策に従うことが条件」と言い渡したことが明らかになった。
アジアの有力カトリック・ニュースメディアucanews.com が5日付けの香港発で、福建省の前福州教区長のGuo Xijin(郭希菫)司教が語ったとして報じた。同司教は、暫定合意でバチカンが中国側が任命していた8人の”司教”を承認したのを受けて、バチカンの判断で福州教区長の座を追われ、補佐司教に降格されている。今回の措置は、中国内外から懸念の声が強まっている”地下教会つぶし”の一環との見方が強い。
以下、ucanews.com5日付け
A Chinese bishop, asked to step aside by the Vatican for an illicitly ordained bishop, cannot concelebrate Chrism Mass unless e agrees to state policy on the Catholic Church in China.Bishop Guo Xijin — the former bishop of Mindong — told ucanews.com that it is currently uncertain if he could join the Chrism Mass because the government refuses to acknowledge him.
“The government officials said in clarity that they do not recognize me as a bishop,” Bishop Guo said.The bishop said he has been told that recognition would only come upon his applying to join the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) and its church affairs committee at the provincial level. “This needs to be done after declaring my acceptance of the policy of ‘an independent, autonomous and self-run church,’” he said. “They said: ‘You are not sincere enough and therefore we cannot recognize your identity.’”
The 59-year-old bishop said he is not considering doing what the officials are pressuring him to do.Bishop Guo was the Vatican-approved bishop of the underground church in Mindong Diocese which covers the prefecture-level city of Ningde in Fujian province, southeastern China.Following the Sept. 22, 2018 signing of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement, he was asked to step aside by Vatican officials for state-approved Bishop Zhan Silu who was pardoned by Pope Francis.Bishop Zhan took the appointment when Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli led a Vatican delegation to Beijing last December.Bishop Zhan told ucanews.com that a concelebration of the Chrism Mass depends on Bishop Guo, but added that the government makes decisions.“When Bishop Guo smoothes out his relations with the government, there will be no problem,” he said.
A diocesan bishop usually celebrates the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. The bishop will bless and consecrate oils for sacramental use with the concelebrating priests.As a remembrance of Jesus’ constitution of the Sacraments of the Holy Order, all bishops and priests present renew their priestly vows. It’s also a sign of communion and solidarity among the clergymen. Mindong’s underground community