Becker Bible Studies Library

China

China ordains new bishop in state-sanctioned Catholic Church - 05/03/2006

China's state-sanctioned Catholic Church, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, ordained a new bishop, Ma Yinglin, in Kumming in southwestern Yunnan province. The Vatican had requested a delay to the appointment, to improve relations over their disputes with China about who has the authority to appoint bishops. The ordination of a state-sanctioned bishop threatens efforts to restore official ties, that were broken in 1951 after the Communist Party took control, between the Vatican and China.

Stanglin, Douglas. "China ignores Vatican, ordains new bishop." USA TODAY 1 May 2006: 6A.

China hosts first global religious conference since 1949

Beijing sponsored a forum for an international audience of Buddhist monks and Communist Party dignitaries, to cast China's rise as non-threatening and peace-loving that is in accordance with religions like Buddhism.

A 16-year-old Tibetan lama made a rare appearance at the forum, and defended China's record on religion and endorsed patriotism.

The lama was appointed by China's communist leaders more than a decade ago as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. He replaced another boy who was declared the true reincarnation by the exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama. That boy was never seen again.

The disputed Panchen Lama participated in the stage-managed event to show that communist leaders are relaxing their grip on religion. His scripted lines reflected how Beijing still directs religious issues.

China allows five official religions - Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Protestantism and Catholicism - but it controls the leadership of each one and suppresses underground religious activity.

"China's lama makes rare appearance." Lewiston Tribune 14 Apr 2006: 2A.

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. "China - Christian Updates." Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.   <http://guidedbiblestudies.com/library/china.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2006, January) "China - Christian Updates." Becker Bible Studies Library Retrieved   from http://guidedbiblestudies.com/library/china.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2006) "China - Christian Updates." Becker Bible Studies Library (January), http://guidedbiblestudies.com/library/china.htm (accessed )

About the Author

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

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