The government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) have named a young priest from Beijing as their first ever spokesperson. The Vatican does not recognize either of the organizations, which were established in 1957 and 1980 respectively. Conference president, Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming, said having a spokesperson is “a new thing for the China Church, and is essential given the present situation following the Eighth National Congress of Catholic Representatives.” The congress last December re-elected the association and conference leaderships. Though the Vatican warned that attending it would run counter to communion with the pope, about 300 representatives including 45 bishops were present.

1. China Church names first spokesperson www.ucanews.com

2. New position is 'essential' in light of current relations between open Church and Vatican.

3. The government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) have named a young priest from Beijing as their first ever spokesperson.

4. The Vatican does not recognize either of the organizations, which were established in 1957 and 1980 respectively.

5. Conference president, Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming, said having a spokesperson is “a new thing for the China Church, and is essential given the present situation following the Eighth National Congress of Catholic Representatives.”

6. The congress last December re-elected the association and conference leaderships. Though the Vatican warned that attending it would run counter to communion with the pope, about 300 representatives including 45 bishops were present.

7. A joint CCPA and BCCCC meeting recently named Father Joseph Yang Yu, vice secretary-general of the conference, as the new spokesperson.

8. The priest said his role will involve “passing on accurate information about the Catholic Church in China to domestic and international media in a timely fashion” and build a positive image of the Church.

9. The association and conference will also respond to questions related to Church affairs in China “to eliminate doubts and misunderstandings, and enhance mutual understanding and tolerance with the universal Church.”

10. Father Yang, who was ordained a priest in 2000, currently serves as a teacher and the spiritual director of Beijing diocesan seminary. He studied theology for six years and has a licentiate from the University of St. Mary of Lake at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago.

11. In an interview with the official Xinhua News Agency last week, he said the China Church faces the urgent task of selecting and ordaining bishops in an “active and prudent” way as more than 40 of the country’s 97 dioceses are without a bishop.

12. Association and conference leaders said at their recent meeting that the Church would strive to select and ordain the bishops without delay.

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14. Full source @ http://www.ucanews.com/2011/06/28/china-church-names-first-spokesperson/ http://www.ucanews.com/