BEIJING, AUG. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The underground Catholic bishop of Zheng Ding, in Hebei province, has been arrested again, reported a U.S.-based watchdog agency.
The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported that Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, 73, was arrested today by the Chinese public security and religious bureau.
AsiaNews reported that the Chinese authorities arrested Bishop Jia to prevent him from disseminating Benedict XVI's letter to Chinese Catholics and organizing meetings in which the letter's contents would be explained to the faithful.
Bishop Jia, who has been arrested at least 10 times since 2004, was told several times by the religious bureau that he could not publicly support and promulgate the Pope's letter to China.
Over the last five days, Bishop Jia was put under 24-hour surveillance while the number of security police outside the bishop's residence was increased.
Anyone coming to visit the bishop's residence was arrested, including a priest and a layperson who were interrogated for 8 hours before being released.
Joseph Kung, the president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said: "It is apparent that the aforementioned actions by the Chinese government is not only contrary to the spirit of the China letter issued by the Pope almost two months ago, but also contrary to the generally accepted principles of human rights and to the spirit of the Olympic games."
Bishop Jia has spent almost all his episcopal ministry under house arrest, and some 20 years in prison.
ZE07082304 - 2007-08-23