It is a dangerous deal, and will have an impact on the way other religions deal with the communist regime and the life of faithful Christians in China. For the record, the deal remains a secret, as the Holy See did not officially release the text of the agreement. Immediately after the signing of the agreement, Francis admitted to the episcopacy seven illicitly ordained Chinese bishops, despite persistent concerns over their moral integrity and loyalty. The role of this new ecclesiastical territory within the wider framework of the Vatican-Beijing détente remains to be seen. What the Catholic Church in China now has for shepherds are bishops with dual allegiances – to Rome and Beijing.

Source: Manila Times September 25, 2018 16:18 UTC