China, Vatican ‘May Sign Deal’ on Chinese Catholics, Bishops: Taiwan
Beijing and the Vatican are on the verge of an agreement on the status of China’s Catholic Church and the controversial appointment of bishops by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, reports indicate. A report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday cited two people close to negotiations as saying that a deal was very close. In Taipei, Taiwan foreign affairs spokesman Li Hsien-chang said the democratic island’s officials had a similar understanding of the situation. “I think lately it is looking as if the two sides will sign an agreement on religious matters,” Li told a news conference. Asked if a deal would mean that the Vatican would break off diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of the Chinese Communist…Continue Reading