According to a U.S.-based watchdog group, the Cardinal Kung Foundation, Bishop Han, 71, of the Diocese of Yong Nian in Hebei province, died at 11 p.m. Government authorities summoned a few close relatives to his bedside before his death.
No priests or other faithful were aware of a grave illness or any other cause leading to his death, the foundation reported. The government ordered the bishop's body to be cremated early Monday morning; his ashes were buried in a public cemetery within six hours of his death.
With the exception of a few relatives, the body of Bishop Han was not viewed by anyone. No priests or other faithful were present during his burial.
Joseph Kung, the president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said: "What was the Chinese government afraid of to cremate Bishop Han only six hours after his death and at such an early hour -- at 5 o'clock in the morning?"
ZE07091133 - 2007-09-11