China Appoints Vatican-Approved Bishop

In another step toward reconciliation with the Vatican, China's state-controlled Catholic church today appointed as bishop of Beijing a cleric who has the approval of the Vatican. The Associated Press reports that Joseph Li Shan, in taking the traditional oath to the Church, also added a promise to "lead all the priests seminarians and nuns of this diocese in adhering to the nation's constitution, maintaining national unification and social stability." (See prior related posting.)