ICC Note: Amid Vatican talks with China to resolve disputes over appointments of bishops, the head of religious affairs warns of domination by foreign forces. While some are advocating that the separation of church and state must be upheld, some Chinese Catholics are wary of the state-controlled Catholic Association that appoints bishops and some operate more underground in recognition of the pope.

8/22/18 Indonesia (Reuters) Religious matters in China cannot be controlled by foreigners, Beijing’s senior-most official for religion wrote in a Communist Party journal, amid talks with the Vatican to resolve a dispute over the appointment of Catholic bishops.

Pope Francis had voiced optimism in June that ties between the Vatican and China were improving, as the two sides were in advanced talks to settle one of the biggest obstacles to resuming diplomatic ties that were cut almost 70 years ago.

Catholics in China are split between those in “underground” communities that recognize the pope and those belonging to a state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association where bishops are appointed by the government in collaboration with local Church communities.

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