Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Rome-watch: Chinese government backed Church says it will ordain 40 bishops without Vatican approval

http://www.romereports.com/palio/Chinese-government-backed-Church-says-it-will-ordain-40-bishops-without-Vatican-approval-english-4455.html


July 2, 2011. (Romereports.com) Once again, the Vatican is at odds with China's government backed church. It's called the Catholic Patriotic Church, which recently ordained a bishop without Vatican approval. Father Paul Lei Shiyin, was ordained bishop of Leshan by the head of the gubernatorial Church on June 29th, the feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Some say holding the ceremony on that religious date only highlights the disregard Chinese church officials have when it comes to the Vatican. Not only have warnings been ignored, but Chinese officials say they plan to ordain another 40 bishops with or without Vatican approval.

According to published reports, the newly ordained bishop, personally requested approval from the Vatican. But in an interview with UCA news agency, he said he couldn't wait any longer for an answer. He also said, “we have to consider the Church's survival....and must work according to reality.” Creating even more controversy, Shiyin is said to have had an affair and fathered a child.

About 1,000 people attended the ceremony, but it's still unclear if everyone was there voluntarily. In the past, clerics who are faithful to the Vatican, have been threatened if they refuse to attend these type of government backed ceremonies.

Ordaining bishops without Vatican approval could automatically lead to excommunication.

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