SHENYANG, China, May 8 (UPI) -- The Vatican has approved the ordination of a new bishop in the Chinese city of Shenyang but stands by its criticism of two earlier ordinations.
Relations between the Vatican and Beijing were strained last week when Pope Benedict XVI rebuked China for consecrating two bishops without approval and threatened to punish the bishops ordained and the believers who participated in the process.
China's government has sought to control Roman Catholics through an official church, run by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Four million people belong to this church, while millions more belong to an underground church loyal to Rome, The New York Times reported from Beijing.
China has 97 dioceses but more than 40 of them do not have bishops. In addition, most bishops are old, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
"The Chinese government regrets the criticism from the Vatican on the matter," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.
The Vatican must terminate its diplomatic links with Taiwan and it should not interfere in China's internal affairs, including any intervention under the pretext of religious affairs, said Liu.
