"Study retreat"
This news item was in this morning's SCMP:
A Shaanxi bishop, who has been described by the mainland government as illegal, has been put under house arrest for more than a month, colleagues said yesterday. Wu Qinjing, 38, was taken from his church by Zhouzhi county authorities on March 17, according to a priest from Zhouzhi diocese who spoke on condition of anonymity. Bishop Wu's whereabouts were not immediately known, but the priest said he could possibly have been taken to Lintong or Xian, and his colleagues were still negotiating with the provincial religious affairs bureau to release the bishop as soon as possible.
"They took Bishop Wu away on the excuse of a `study retreat', but he is able to administer church affairs where he is staying now," the priest said. However, he added that the bishop "is not allowed to contact the priests and the faithful".
snip
Liu Jinye , a deputy inspector from the provincial religious affairs bureau, denied yesterday that Bishop Wu was under house arrest."He is in a study programme to study the country's laws and regulations and policies," Mr Liu said. He said it was unclear when the programme would finish.
A Shaanxi bishop, who has been described by the mainland government as illegal, has been put under house arrest for more than a month, colleagues said yesterday. Wu Qinjing, 38, was taken from his church by Zhouzhi county authorities on March 17, according to a priest from Zhouzhi diocese who spoke on condition of anonymity. Bishop Wu's whereabouts were not immediately known, but the priest said he could possibly have been taken to Lintong or Xian, and his colleagues were still negotiating with the provincial religious affairs bureau to release the bishop as soon as possible.
"They took Bishop Wu away on the excuse of a `study retreat', but he is able to administer church affairs where he is staying now," the priest said. However, he added that the bishop "is not allowed to contact the priests and the faithful".
snip
Liu Jinye , a deputy inspector from the provincial religious affairs bureau, denied yesterday that Bishop Wu was under house arrest."He is in a study programme to study the country's laws and regulations and policies," Mr Liu said. He said it was unclear when the programme would finish.
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