Christianity in China (9 images)

Chinese newlyweds have their photos taken in front of St. Joseph's Catholic Cathedral in central Beijing November 21, 2010. China's government-backed Catholic church ordained a bishop who did not have the pope's approval Saturday, despite strong objections from the Vatican and comments by a key papal adviser that the move was "illegitimate" and "shameful." UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese ballet dancers, dressed as Catholic clergy, perform a dance in honor of one of China's most famous mountains, Mount Lu, in Lushan, Jiangxi Province October 12, 2009. China's Christian population - especially those who refuse to worship in the tightly regulated state-registered churches - is seen as a threat to Communist China's control over ideology. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese Catholic worshippers attend an early morning mass at the government-sanctioned South Cathedral in Beijing May 9, 2006. The Vatican has excommunicated two bishops ordained by China's state-approved Catholic church, as well as the two bishops who presided over the ceremony without Vatican consent. In a statement, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said on Thursday the Roman Catholic Church's canon law states that in such a case excommunication is automatic. Earlier the Vatican strongly criticized the ordination of the bishops, saying they represented a "grave violation of religious freedom" and hindered dialogue between the Vatican and Beijing. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver)

The Vatican has excommunicated two bishops ordained by China's state-approved Catholic church, as well as the two bishops who presided over the ceremony without Vatican consent. In a statement, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said on Thursday the Roman Catholic Church's canon law states that in such a case excommunication is automatic. Earlier the Vatican strongly criticized the ordination of the bishops, saying they represented a "grave violation of religious freedom" and hindered dialogue between the Vatican and Beijing. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver)