Monday, July 30, 2007

Underground Catholic Priests Detained In China

Yesterday's Washington Post reports that in China last Tuesday, three priests from China's underground Roman Catholic Church were detained by authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia. They had fled from their hometown in order to avoid arrest for refusing to join China's government-approved Catholic Church. Quoting the Cardinal Kung Foundation, the report says that other underground church officials are also being held. Another priest was detained earlier this month. In all, five bishops and 15 priests or lay people have been jailed, and others are under surveillance or house arrest.