(Wenzhou, Zhejiang- January 23, 2024) Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin is a key figure in the Catholic Diocese of Wenzhou. He was taken away by the Communist Party authorities at the beginning of 2024 for opposing the interference of the Chinese Communist authorities in diocesan affairs. The outside world has lost communication with him. The faithful of the Wenzhou Diocese pray that God will allow him to be released soon.
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin has consistently remained loyal to the Vatican. Before the signing of the China-Holy See agreement on the appointment of bishops, the “underground” church loyal to the Vatican needed tremendous courage to uphold their faith. Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin has consistently refused to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which is controlled by the Communist Party. As a result, he has not received recognition from the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
Over the years, he has been routinely arrested and detained for several months by the local authorities in Wenzhou. The authorities have used these measures in an attempt to weaken his functions as a bishop. Bishop Shao is often arrested during major holidays in the church calendar such as Easter and Christmas, preventing him from celebrating Mass with the congregation.
The government deliberately appointed Father Ma Xianshi, a member of the government sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, to oversee the diocese, replacing the bishop in carrying out the functions of the diocese.
According to AsiaNews, the security forces in Wenzhou took Bishop Shao Zhumin into custody on January 2nd. “He was ordered to bring clothes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter,” AsiaNews quoted a source as saying, “This suggests that his situation is not promising and that he will probably be held for a long time. The faithful are worried because they don’t even know where he will be detained.”
A few days before Christmas on December 16, 2023, Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin was taken away by security forces and released two days later. On December 24th to 25th, he was again taken to Taishun County in Wenzhou to prevent him from celebrating the Christmas Mass. However, he still reported that he had one of the most peaceful Christmases of his life.
The direct factor believed to have triggered the recent arrest on the 2nd is the letter that Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin wrote to Father Ma Xianshi of the Wenzhou diocese on December 31. In the letter, he expressed regret over the appointment of Father Ma Xianshi, a member of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, as the dean of the diocese, and decisions made in his absence.
According to the report, Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin expressed opposition to the decisions made by the diocesan priests regarding the division of parishes and the transfer of priests, the downgrade of the Diocese of Lishui to parish status under the Diocese of Wenzhou, and the promotion of seminarians.
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin protested against decisions related to the diocese made without his permission, and subsequently, he was arrested. Pursuant to the Code of canon law, personnel appointments, consecrations, and transfers within the church must be unilaterally decided or authorized by the bishop. Anyone who receives holy orders from someone who lacks legitimate power to ordain is automatically suspended.
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin expressed in the letter his desire to meet with Father Ma to discuss the current difficulties facing the diocese. However, he received a response stating that it was “inconvenient to meet.”
The 61-year-old bishop was taken away solely on suspicion of opposing state officials’ interference in the affairs of the diocese in the eastern Zhejiang province of China.
Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin was appointed by the Vatican in 2011 and took over as the rightful bishop in September 2016 after the death of Bishop Vincent Zhu Wei-Fang.
The official name of the Catholic Diocese in Wenzhou is the Diocese of Yongjia (Latin: Dioecesis Iomchiavensis), and it is estimated to have around 150,000 Catholics.
Media reports suggest that Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin’s latest arrest will become a focal point in the tense relationship between China and the Vatican and the China-Holy See agreement, which was renewed in 2020 and 2022 for two-year periods each time. If not renewed, the agreement will expire in October.
Despite the ongoing tension, the Pope has expressed a desire to continue “dialogue” with China. However, true dialogue requires genuine authority, and agreements without fulfillment are not genuine agreements.
