The prelate, who was ordained without the government's permission, was held incommunicado for five days. Before his release he had to sign a statement in which he recognises that this pastoral work is "illegal" and pledges never again to wear the mitre and Episcopal vestments.

Zhouzhi (AsiaNews/UCAN) – Mgr Wu Qinjing, ordained bishop of Zhouzhi without government approval, was released last Sunday and is now resting in a hospital where he was taken because of a slight brain concussion, possibly the result of maltreatment when in custody according to some observers.

An anonymous source close to the 38-year-old man said that before his release, Bishop Wu was forced to "admit" in writing that his Episcopal ordination, celebrated by the late Mgr Li Duan, archbishop of Xian, was "illegal". Specifically, he had to write that he was ordained without an election and that his management of the diocese and his presiding over Church activities as a bishop violated the China's religious affairs regulations. He further had to promise not to wear a mitre or bishop's vestments.

Late in the night of September 11, about 20 plainclothes security officers forced Bishop Wu into one of four vehicles parked outside Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Zhouzhi County, 950 kilometres southwest of Beijing. They jumped over a fence to get into the bishop's house and drag him out.

The next day, diocesan priests learned from local religious affairs officials that provincial authorities had ordered Bishop Wu's arrest.

The prelate, who is accepted by the government as a priest in the official Church, was brought to a mountainous area in southern Zhouzhi. During the five days of detention, officials warned him that his Episcopal ordination was illegal and that he had unlawfully worked as a bishop since May.

According to the source, Bishop Wu was released because Catholics demanded it and because officials were satisfied that they had successfully prevented him from celebrating mass last Friday, feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross, at the diocese's well-known pilgrimage site, the Mount of the Holy Cross. Local catholics are expected to probe the authorities for an explanation of the incident and the use of violence against their bishop.

The prelate was ordained in October 2005, but the ordination approved by the Holy See has not recognised by the government, which insists it was "illegal".

In fact, local authorities were planning to name another priest, Zhao Yinshen, in lieu of Mgr Wu. Zhao is known for his business acumen and favours to the government. But no local Catholic respects him, except a few members of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association which is a government-controlled organisation designed to build a nationalist Catholic Church separate from Rome.

Right after his ordination, Mgr Wu was warned not "to act like bishop" and keep a low profile towards the faithful.

Police mercilessly harassed him going so far as to stop him for ID checks whenever he was expected to celebrate religious functions like communions or christenings.

Finally, on May 22 of this year his ordination was made public, three days before Bishop Li Duan passed away. Two days later, despite government threats, Mgr Wu celebrated his first mass in Zhouzhi Cathedral. He did not wear any Episcopal vestments but did don the Episcopal zucchetto (skullcap) and pastoral rings.

• china
• zhoushi
• bishop
• wu
• qinjing
• illegal
• ordination
• arrest
• release