China: Clandestine Bishop Shao Zhumin Arrested Again

Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin, the clandestine Bishop of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, was arrested by authorities of the National Security Bureau. The arrest is related to the opening Jubilee Mass that the bishop celebrated publicly on December 27, attended by 200 faithful.

The authorities maintain that this Mass was "illegal," in violation of Article 71 of the Norms on Religious Affairs, and that it constituted "a serious crime." The bishop was therefore fined 200,000 yuan (over 26,000 euros) for this. Bishop Shao contested this measure, explaining that the Church's activities do not violate the law.

The arrest, following the refusal to pay, is said to be intended to guarantee the prelate's "security." It is unclear where he was taken and how long this restrictive measure or surveillance will last.

The Asianews website explains that "in recent years, every Sunday, plainclothes agents have visited churches in the underground diocese of Wenzhou, preventing any children or adolescents from entering." In recent months, the National Security Bureau has adopted a new approach, delegating surveillance to local neighborhood authorities. 

Officials generally monitor churches from 7 a.m. until noon, preventing not only children and adolescents from entering, but also priests who come to celebrate Mass.

As for Bishop Shao, he refused to join the Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics, the organization controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, and is therefore not recognized by the authorities. The prelate, now 61, was appointed in 2007 by Benedict XVI as coadjutor bishop to succeed Bishop Vincenzo Zhu Wei-Fang, who died in September 2016.

For refusing to join the Patriotic Association, the authorities consider the see "vacant" and support Fr. Ma Xianshi, a "patriotic" priest, as the leader of the local Catholic community. Bishop Shao has been arrested several times in recent years to undergo "re-education" sessions.

When security forces took the prelate into custody, “He was ordered to take clothes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter,” a source said. “This suggests that his situation is not promising and that he will probably be held for a long time. The faithful are worried because they don't even know where he will be detained.”